Margo Miller, board secretary, is AFA’s representative to the nation-wide coalition. Here’s her report.
On May 21, 2024, House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson introduced H.R. 8467, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, which was slated for Committee markup on Thursday, May 23, 2024.
The text contains a “new” version of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, which (per the Defeat EATS Coalition) “aims to strip state and local governments of their ability to make agricultural policies within their own borders; these are policies that create market opportunity, protect communities’ health and welfare and set common-sense production standards that address animal welfare.”
On May 23, 2024, the House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 8467 by 33 to 21. It has not been scheduled for hearing by the entire House of Representatives. The Defeat EATS Coalition – a diverse group of 120 organizations urging Congressional opposition to the EATS Act and any bills like it – continues to monitor this bill and lobby Congress.
There is varying opinion of when H.R. 8467 will be heard on the House floor – primarily because it’s an election year, it may not be until the “lame-duck” period after the November elections or during 2025.
The Defeat EATS Coalition will continue to hold bi-weekly Zoom meetings to keep Coalition members informed of any activity of the bill and actions members can take. Meanwhile, updates can be viewed via the Defeat EATS coalition website.
Link to H.R. 8467:
Within H.R. 8467 is Sec. 12007, which incorporates the former EATS Act:
SEC. 12007. ENSURING THE FREE MOVEMENT OF LIVESTOCK-DERIVED PRODUCTS IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Link for the May 23, 2024, House Agriculture Committee vote: