Posted on 11/15/2010 8:34:28 AM PST by unspun
Congress will convene November 15 to try to force into law all the things they didn't get done during the regular session. No one knows for sure just which bills will be on Nancy and Harry's agenda. It's Harry's agenda that is most important because the Senate - with 60 votes required to stop debate - offers the best opportunity to stop a bill.
S-510 - Food Safety Modernization Act - is one of the bills that must be stopped. Doreen Hannes has been following this bill for several organizations during its entire existence. Here's some of her reasons why the bill must be stopped. Doreen says:
"In a nutshell, S510 is effectively NAIS (National Animal Identification System) for everything. It is a tremendous amount of additional enforcement (fines and penalties, license revocations, further license requirements, control over processes and harvest) which are definite issues with the bill as it currently exists. However, not unlike the "Health Care" bill, they will have to pass this to see what it actually does.
"Here's why....In S 510, the FDA is instructed to follow all international agreements. One of the issues with international 'guidelines and standards' is "Good Agricultural Practices". Well those are not necessarily good. Most GAP certifying bodies have checklists about 25 pages long for growers to follow. They all require traceability (i.e., NAIS) they also require auditing, verifying and certifying the processes used to produce a consumable product for human or animal feed. Every step in GAP costs the grower of food money and a good deal of paperwork. What happens if you're better at growing food than filing forms? You will be penalized (i.e., more money). Sec 420 is exceptionally dangerous in my eyes. It subjects all farms that 'produce' milk to risk assessment and management (i.e., insurance).
"The idea that exemptions will be helpful is rose-colored-glasses thinking. Exemptions can easily be taken away or modified without Congressional oversight through the regulatory process. Most farmers aren't watching the Federal Register like hawks.
"The FDA has plenty of authority to protect the anonymous food supply already. But they don't. Instead, they put small entities out of business through Hazard Analasis & Critical Control Points (HACCP), also to be expanded in this bill, and heavier regulations that are not helpful to smaller economies of scale. The FDA inspects less than 1% of imported produce, has performed inspections on less than 25% of processing failties that they are authorized to inspect (in a five year period) and they ALREADY have authority over live food animals on the farm. The USDA authority is over animal disease."
S-787 - Clean Water Restoration Act - will give the federal government jurisdiction over all water, everywhere, as well as jurisdiction over all activity that affects water wherever it may be. This would give to the federal government effective control over every square inch of land in the United States. It too, must be stopped. (see video 3:30)
Please register your concerns to your senators early in the week. You can reach your Senators through the switchboard at this number:
(202) 224-3121
Doreen Hannes spoke to the Gulag's CJ in TX and Tallulah about this in last Saturday night's Fan the Fire, on the Patriot's Heart Network, available for streaming now.
Also, Mr. Lamb's work in this regard has been referenced by Rep. Ron Paul in Congress: "Henry Lamb Documents the Codex Threat to Health Freedom."
Henry Lamb is the author of “The Rise of Global Governance,” Chairman of Sovereignty International , and founder of the Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) and Freedom21, Inc.Graphics added by Gulag Bound
I’m starting to think that the way to go is to let them pass it — then see if they can enforce it.
NEVER GIVE AN INCH! Never give up, never, never, never, never.
Any ground given only increased the enemies strength.
NEVER!!!
HUGE ... BAD IDEA.
GIVE THEM NO GROUND WHAT SO EVER.
IT ALREADY HAS TOO MUCH POWER.
This goes against many popular leftist icons: the family farmer, sustainable ag, organic food, you name it.
I hate to tell you, but the USDA already has this authority by executive order during the Bush Admin. It was considered “necessary” because of the mad cow disease found in Canada. All livestock and horses now have to have a microchip. If a veterinarian walks on your place, finds that your animals are not microchipped he/she is REQUIRED BY LAW to report your farm to the USDA and you will be fined. As a result, there are many vets that are no longer making farm calls, or getting out of large animal care entirely. As one vet told me, “I didn’t go to vet school to become a federal agaent.”
One of the goals of the Codex will be to eliminate competition to Big Pharma from the marketers of food supplements. It’s already happening in Europe: http://www.optimumhealthreport.com/articles/codex.asp
If you want to be sure you can buy your Vitamin C without a prescription, let your Congresscritter know at once.
Nope... Not true..
NAIS was abandoned by the Feds this past spring and has now a “new” proposed system called ADT (Animal Disease Traceability) in place. Massive rollback on about everything. No more RFID tags. Basically reverting back to the old “Bangs” tags that were used during the Brucellosis control program.
Still, it is good to keep an eye on what is going on out there.
Best,
MFO
Well, for all the good it will do, I’ve just e-mailed telling All Frankin to NOT vote for anything that increases this nation debt or hinders small business...
Not holding breath....
The trouble with this lame duck session is that there are so many possible bills that require a filibuster. I had not about this bill. How many other terrible bills are lurking beneath scrutiny?
My sympathies.
Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, over here.
Not one more inch. Roll back.
I agree with your sentiments.
Is this true? Can you provide a reference?
I guess I wouldn't know about such a requirement because I don't let anyone but immediate family near my livestock.
For all his babbling about Constitutional authority, this is so FAR beyond the bounds of his legal authority as to be laughable. Reason #128 I won't soon forgive George W. Bush.
God help us- they’ll regulate us to death.
//////////////////////////////
You are absolutely missinformed as this is NOT TRUE.
They tried to do this but encountered a revolt from most every farmer and horse owner. They had a “listening tour” and got an earful.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.