Action Alert
January 30, 2007
Hearing on HB 1990 - Call and email now!
The Wittman Anti-NAIS bill, HB1990, is expected to go the full House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday morning. The hearing is Wednesday, January 31st, in House Room C, starting at 8:30 am.
HB 1990 has been amended to bar a mandatory NAIS in Virginia. This is a very good step forward! We are concerned that the voluntary program would allow the State to coerce participation, and that there is no right to withdraw. (The funding issue is being addressed separately in a budget amendment introduced by Senator Deeds.) But there may not be enough time to get these issues addressed before the end of the session, and it is important that we support Delegate Wittman's bill.
**Action We Recommend**
Please immediately contact ALL House Agriculture Committee members to support Wittman's bill, HB1990. A phone call is best, email if you can't call. If you can go to the hearing and testify, please do! We need to support this move forward.
Below is a sample letter you can use, along with a list of
Agriculture Committee members. Personalize your comments to have the
greatest impact. Also, send a copy of your comments to your
legislators. You can find who your legislators are at:
http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform.
And be sure to thank Delegate Wittman at DelRWittman@house.state.va.us!
He took a very courageous step in introducing the bill and continuing to push for it!
**Sample Letter**
I support HB 1990, as amended: "The Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall ensure that the Department does not provide any assistance to the establishment of a mandatory nation animal identification system in Virginia. The Commissioner or his designees are not prohibited from communicating, or participating in discussions, with the United States Department of Agriculture in regards to the National Animal Identification System." I am a ______ (farmer, pet owner, consumer tell them just a little about yourself)
The proposed legislation will stop mandatory implementation of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). NAIS would destroy independent livestock farming and ranching and take away consumers' ability to choose their food sources. There have been no scientific studies conducted to show that NAIS will provide significant animal health benefits. Moreover, the State of Virgina has not done an analysis of the costs of this program. When one considers the costs of identification devices, the labor of installing them, the paperwork burdens, and the costs of record keeping and reporting, the costs do not outweigh the supposed benefits. As farmers go out of business livestock-related businesses, such as feed and supply stores, will suffer, and the economic effects will be widespread. NAIS does not make sense for Virginia agriculture or Virginians.
I urge you to protect independent agriculture in Virginia, and support HB 1990.
Sincerely,
Your name
Address
City, State, Zip
Email if you have it
Contact info for House Agriculture Committee:
Bulova, David L.: DelDBulova@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1037
Byron, Kathy J.: DelKByron@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1022
Cline, Benjamin L.: DelBCline@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1024
Cox, M. Kirkland: DelKCox@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1066
Eisenberg, Albert C.: DelAEisenberg@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1047
Hogan, Clarke N.: DelCHogan@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1060
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr.: DelLLewis@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1000
Lohr, Matthew J.: DelMLohr@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1026
Marshall, Daniel W., III: DelDMarshall@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1014
McEachin, A. Donald: DelDMcEachin@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1074
Morgan, Harvey B.: DelHMorgan@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1098
Orrock, Robert D., Sr.: DelBOrrock@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1054
Plum, Kenneth R.: DelKPlum@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1036
Poisson, David E.: DelDPoisson@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1032
Saxman, Christopher B.: DelCSaxman@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1020
Scott, Edward T.: DelEScott@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1030
Shannon, Stephen C.: DelSShannon@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1035
Sherwood, Beverly J.: DelBSherwood@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1029
Shuler, James M.: DelJShuler@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1012
Ware, R. Lee, Jr.: DelLWare@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1065
Wittman, Robert J.: DelRWittman@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1099
Wright, Thomas C., Jr.: DelTWright@house.state.va.us, (804) 698-1061