Request to not approve Bill H.R. 875 now in House Committees. Four issues after reading HR875: 1) Redundant, expensive, government activity 2) Redundant regulations of Federal, state and local regulations already in place 3) Yet another way legislation set up that can be used to drive out small farms and give more unfair advantages to large Corporate Farms. Legislation that in the future will have indirect and direct control over another fundamental aspect of our daily lives. 4) Pushing our country as having the right to police, and impose themselves into other countries. There are international organizations already established for the U.S. to work within to address agricultural and food processing issues on a global scale. There are Federal, State and local Agencies already established that are suppose to be doing what is stated in this bill. However, this bill is so broad and vague enough that it could be used to get a strangle hold on our whole food supply chain, from anyone growing or raising anything that can be classified as food, distributors, to the grocery store, to any eating establishment and then to top it off, the right to go, physically, into any country and police them as well. The responsibility is to the American people, our wishes and best interest within our own country without nicking away at our freedoms. Instead of yet another Agency and redundant regulations, improve the USDA, FDA, Federal Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the EPA and Import Inspectors, these are the jobs they are already suppose to be doing. Participate more actively in the World Health Organization's Food Safety Department and/or the 4 other international organizations.
We the undersigned request you not approve Bill H.R. 875 now in House Committees. Four issues after reading HR875: 1) Redundant, expensive, government activity 2) Redundant regulations of Federal, state and local regulations already in place 3) Yet another way legislation set up that can be used to drive out small farms and give more unfair advantages to large Corporate Farms. Legislation that in the future will have indirect and direct control over another fundamental aspect of our daily lives. 4) Pushing our country as having the right to police, and impose themselves into other countries. There are international organizations already established for the U.S. to work within to address agricultural and food processing issues on a global scale. There are Federal, State and local Agencies already established that are suppose to be doing what is stated in this bill. However, this bill is so broad and vague enough that it could be used to get a strangle hold on our whole food supply chain, from anyone growing or raising anything that can be classified as food, distributors, to the grocery store, to any eating establishment and then to top it off, the right to go, physically, into any country and police them as well. The responsibility is to the American people, our wishes and best interest within our own country without nicking away at our freedoms. Instead of yet another Agency and redundant regulations, improve the USDA, FDA, Federal Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the EPA and Import Inspectors, these are the jobs they are already suppose to be doing. Participate more actively in the World Health Organization's Food Safety Department and/or the 4 other international organizations.
H.R. 875, good intentions maybe. Will it affect every citizen and cost every citizen? Yes, absolutely, because it will increase the cost of food, which has already sky rocketed and very likely limit the choice of available foods. It will be paid for, same as all government agencies, by the taxpayers of course. If you grow plants or are buying seeds, you will be affected because somewhere within the process the Federal government will have had control of the process. Vegetable seeds are considered 'food' by our government. The saving/storing/banking of seeds is 'processing' which will fall under the purview of the new laws. You may find next year you can no longer get those favorite Heirloom Tomato seeds you love because some Federal Agent didn't approve of the collection process or the small grower didn't have the fees or forgot to register with this new agency or the seeds come from Canada and Canadian seeds have been ban. Too much of a very slippery slop to give one Federal Agency so much control over our food supply chain, especially when there are already Federal, state and local agency that are suppose to ensure food is safe for consumption.
Please understand all the ramifications. We need to ask what if the new agency goes to the extreme, if and how the regulations can be used abusively and do they take yet another part of our freedoms under the calls of being for our own good and safety. We want our food products to be safe but not at the expense of giving up our responsibilities or freedom of choice. Help us stay informed so we can make our own choices. We want to have little Kitchen Gardens, local Farmers Markets, and Organic Foods without worrying if a Federal Agency is going require we are Federal Registered and pay fees we cannot afford and more taxes we cannot afford either. Support the small farmer and encourage more of them. This country, not so long ago, could feed the world 3 times over, all grown on family farms. The bigger problems are coming from %u201CCorporate Farms%u201D. We now are importing more and more food. Why? Make the USDA, FDA, FDHHS, CDC, EPA and Import Inspectors do their jobs, as the current laws and regulations require them. If these agencies are not or cannot do their jobs improve and modernize them. Do not create another Federal Agency with such broad and vague power over our food supply chain.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this petition. We know it is only one of many being reviewed in committee but our hopes are with you to hear and know the voice of the citizens.
