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Trustee Archive
Today's factory livestock operations generate huge amounts of hog, chicken and cattle waste. Most of these feedlot operations store and evaporate this waste in large open lagoons, some of it to eventually be used as fertilizer. However, these manure pits can leak if retaining walls fail or if flooding or overfilling occurs. Advocates warn of serious health problems resulting from pathogens invading our water supply, not to mention the damage to air quality, fisheries and ecosystems. Critics of large factory farms say they confine thousands of animals in cramped, unsanitary conditions thereby placing the safety of our food at risk. Large farms also pollute our air and water, harm the welfare of animals, exploit workers, extract wealth from rural communities, increase the risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria, and have a stranglehold on our food supply.
According to the EPA, feedlot waste discharges have been blamed for polluting at least 35,000 miles of our nation's rivers and streams, as well as contaminating groundwater supplies in at least 16 states. The EPA believes there are more than 20,000 large feedlots now operating in our country – of which less than half have federal effluent discharge permits. It reports that 75% of these operations are allowing pollutants into our waterways. Critics say the EPA has failed to enforce the 1972 Clean Water Act’s requirements on large animal feedlots. They claim the implementation of these regulations has been severely handicapped by legal loopholes and agribusiness influence.
Pending Legislation: H.R.797 - Farm System Reform Act of 2023
Sponsor: Rep. Ro Khanna (CA)
Status: House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry (Agriculture)
Chair: Rep. Tracey Mann (KS) |
- I oppose reforming current livestock feedlot waste accountability policy, and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Speaker Mike Johnson (LA).
- I support placing a moratorium on large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs); expanding country-of-origin labeling; and expanding requirements in the livestock, poultry, and meat markets by:
1.) Prohibiting a CAFO from commencing or expanding operations and, after January 1, 2040, from continuing to operate.
2.) Providing grants to eligible animal feed operation (AFO) owners to pay off related debt and to transition the property to alternative agriculture activities.
3.) Making individuals or entities that enter into arrangements with contract growers to raise and care for livestock or poultry at an AFO that exercise substantial operational control of an AFO to be liable and subject to civil action for an AFO's operation, including for dead animal and manure disposal, and for the discharge of air and water pollutants.
4.) Expanding country-of-origin labeling requirements to include beef, pork, and dairy products.
5.) Prohibiting the use of forward contracts (i.e., future livestock delivery to a packer) unless certain requirements are met, such as a firm base price and competitive bidding;
establishing that a minimum of 50%, with exceptions, of a covered packer's daily volume of livestock slaughter must be purchased through spot market sales (i.e., the negotiated purchase or sale of livestock that meets specific pricing, timing, and competitive bidding requirements) from nonaffiliated producers; and providing USDA with additional enforcement authorities over live poultry dealers.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Tracey Mann (KS) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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| Winning Option
»» No issues were voted |
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I support placing a moratorium on large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs); expanding country-of-origin labeling; and expanding requirements in the livestock, poultry, and meat markets by:
1.) Prohibiting a CAFO from commencing or expanding operations and, after January 1, 2040, from continuing to operate.
2.) Providing grants to eligible animal feed operation (AFO) owners to pay off related debt and to transition the property to alternative agriculture activities.
3.) Making individuals or entities that enter into arrangements with contract growers to raise and care for livestock or poultry at an AFO that exercise substantial operational control of an AFO to be liable and subject to civil action for an AFO's operation, including for dead animal and manure disposal, and for the discharge of air and water pollutants.
4.) Expanding country-of-origin labeling requirements to include beef, pork, and dairy products.
5.) Prohibiting the use of forward contracts (i.e., future livestock delivery to a packer) unless certain requirements are met, such as a firm base price and competitive bidding;
establishing that a minimum of 50%, with exceptions, of a covered packer's daily volume of livestock slaughter must be purchased through spot market sales (i.e., the negotiated purchase or sale of livestock that meets specific pricing, timing, and competitive bidding requirements) from nonaffiliated producers; and providing USDA with additional enforcement authorities over live poultry dealers.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Rep. Tracey Mann (KS) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
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- Representative
If elected as a trustee(NC) will be unconditionally awarded the funds , the campaign committee of Rep. Tracey Mann (KS) pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting him to favorably consider passing H.R.797 - Farm System Reform Act of 2023.
- Natural Resources Defense Council
If elected as a trustee, Natural Resources Defense Council will be awarded the funds pledged to this issue along with a letter requesting these funds be used to advocate for reducing or eliminating animal feedlot waste from contaminating the environment.
About: NRDC works to safeguard the earth - its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. We combine the power of more than three million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and policy advocates across the globe to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water, and the wild. With dedicated staff working in more than a dozen program areas, we partner with businesses, elected leaders, and community groups on the biggest issues we face today including nature, the environment, climate and clean energy.
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- No trustee votes received.
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| Poll Opening Date |
December 18, 2023 |
| Poll Closing Date |
December 24, 2023 |
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