TX Action Alert: Support LOCAL Foods Act
Thanks to advocates across Texas, momentum is building.
We've asked you before to push Congress to support the LOCAL Foods Act (Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local Foods Act) since it was reintroduced in the Senate. This bill allows consumers to buy a share in an animal and then have a butcher of their choice process it on-farm without government regulations.
The LOCAL Foods Act has been introduced in the Senate with bipartisan sponsors, but it still hasn't been introduced in the House. While any Representative could introduce it, our best chance for success is to have a member of the House Agriculture Committee do so ... and Texas has TWO Representatives on the committee! We need Texas leadership to move this bill forward—and your voice can make that happen. That’s why we’re asking you to not only call your own U.S. Representative, but the two Texans on the House Ag. Committee who should be looking out for the interests of all the producers in our state!
The LOCAL Foods Act would expand access to local, high-quality meat by improving the USDA’s Personal Use Exemption. It would:
- Ease bottlenecks at overburdened slaughterhouses
- Lower processing costs for small farmers
- Improve animal welfare by reducing long-distance transport
- Strengthen local food supply chains and food security
For rural producers who often struggle to access USDA-inspected facilities, this is vital legislation.
We’re calling on the two Texan members of the House Agriculture Committee to introduce and support this bill in the House. If they act now, we can turn bipartisan Senate momentum into real change for our farmers and communities.
Please take a moment to call:
Rep. Monica de la Cruz (TX-15): (202) 225-9901
Rep. Ronny Jackson (TX-13): (202) 225-3706
Please continue calling your own U.S. Representative, even if they are not on the Agriculture Committee so we can generate even more momentum around this bill; you can find your representative here.
Suggested message:
“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a [farmer/rancher/consumer] from Texas. I’m calling to urge Representative [Last Name] to support the LOCAL Foods Act. This bill helps small farmers by making it easier for consumers to access meat from animals they’ve purchased a share in. It’s about food sovereignty, local control, and fair access to processing. Please support its reintroduction in the House.”
This is the moment to double down. The LOCAL Foods Act represents a clear, commonsense path to supporting small producers, rebuilding resilient food systems, and ensuring Texans have real choices at the table.
Thanks for your continued action and dedication—we’re building power together.
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In addition to Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, the LOCAL Foods Act has been endorsed by a number of food and farm advocacy groups, including Rural Vermont, the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, and the National Family Farm Coalition. Additionally, more than 600 signatories from across the country have supported updating the Federal Meat Inspection Act.