Laws would roll back health, safety protections

Two bills recently introduced in the House, HR 3599 and HR 2887, are an all-out attack on the ability of the states to pass and enforce laws that protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens and would roll back existing laws in favor of Big Agriculture and other corporate interests.

HR 3599 is a race to the bottom that would forbid states from passing laws regulating agricultural products and forcing every state to permit the sale of any "agricultural product" - including puppies - if any other state permitted the sale, regardless of how hazardous the product or how cruel the production process.

States would not be able to regulate toxic discharge from factory farms, the toxicity of chemicals applied to crops or even the welfare of dogs being force-bred in puppy mills if another state allowed such practices. The laws recently upheld in Chicago, Cook County, and Waukegan prohibiting the sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores are in danger of being rescinded if this bill passes.

HR 2887 has a similar effect, plus it prevents states from taxing or regulating any activity in interstate commerce by any person (including a corporation) unless that person is physically present in the state for 15 days or more in a calendar year. This means that the first-in-the-nation law just passed in Illinois outlawing traveling elephant acts would be gutted.

Please call Senators Durbin and Duckworth and your U.S. representative and urge them to strongly oppose these unwarranted attacks on the rights of states to pass laws protecting consumers, the environment and animals.

Christine Pado

Third Lake