Congressman Collin C. Peterson (D-MN), a ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, is the latest representative to join H.R 2657 as a co-sponsor. Peterson joins original co-sponsors: Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Justin Amash (R-MI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Garamendi (D-CA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Walter Jones (R-NC), Raul Labrador (R-ID), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Jared Polis (D-CO), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Mark Sanford (R-SC), Robert Wittman (R-VA). They have been joined by Representatives Dave Brat (R-VA), Jason Lewis (R-MN), Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Steve King (R-IA).
H.R. 2657, the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act, is a bipartisan bill that proposes to empower states to set their own standards for the sale of custom-processed meat within the state. There is a shortage of federal and state-inspected slaughterhouses that are accessible to small farmers in many parts of the country leading to farmers often having to haul their animals several hours for slaughtering. The travel is both expensive and stressful on the farmers and the animals. Many farmers operate near a custom slaughterhouse, and with the PRIME ACT, the states would be able to set their own health and safety standards for the sale of meat from these custom slaughterhouses. Passage of the PRIME Act would support small farmers and their animals and improve consumer access to locally raised meats.
Read more about the PRIME Act in the following articles:
Want Local Meat? Tell Congress to Pass the Prime Act
PRIME Act Reintroduced in Congress
PRIME Act Introduced in the Senate
TAKE ACTION
Call or email your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 2657, the PRIME Act.
You can find out who represents you by going to www.house.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Remember, calls are far more effective, and they can take just a couple of minutes! If you send an email, be sure to add a couple of sentences at the beginning to personalize it.
SAMPLE MESSAGE FOR CALLS/EMAILS:
As a constituent, I urge Representative ____ to co-sponsor H.R. 2657, the PRIME Act.
This important bill will make it easier for small farms and ranches to succeed financially and provide consumers with greater access to locally raised meats. The bill simply removes the federal ban on the sale of meat from custom slaughterhouses directly to consumers and venues serving consumers within a state, subject to state law. This returns power to the states to establish a regulatory scheme that makes sense for their citizens.
The PRIME Act is the first step to rebuilding local processing infrastructure, which can revive rural economies and enable communities to become more self-sufficient in meat production.
Please support our local farmers and consumer choice by co-sponsoring H.R. 2657.
[Name]
[City, State]
If you are a livestock producer, take a few extra minutes and ask to speak to the staffer who handles agricultural issues. Briefly explain to the staffer any problems you have faced with lack of access to inspected slaughterhouses, and how the PRIME Act would help your business and benefit your customers.
NOTE: If your Representative is already a co-sponsor, be sure to say “Thank you!” when you call.
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