UPDATE: FARM BILL/PPA PASSES February 13, 2002 (Last publication date 2/10/02. Appropriate forwarding encouraged.)
BOTTOM LINE: The Senate Farm Bill S 1731 passed this morning, Wednesday, February 13, containing Senate Amendment 2542, based on The Puppy Protection Act of 2001 S 1478 introduced last October by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA). Associated Press is tonight reporting that the Farm Bill, "Includes several animal-protection measures, including restrictions on dog breeders and a ban on interstate shipment of fighting birds. Exempts research rats, mice and birds from being regulated under animal-welfare laws." AP further reports, "The Democratic-crafted bill, which was approved 58-40, would authorize $45 billion in new spending over the next five years, a 27 percent increase over programs that expire this fall President Bush said the legislation ``doesn't get the job done'' but pledged that his administration would work with congressional negotiators on a compromise." There are many contentious agriculture issues in this important election year bill, and the AP quotes Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa saying, ``Everything is on the table.'' YESTERDAY: The Senate had voted to include SA 2542, now the Santorum-Durbin amendment, into the Farm Bill without debate or a roll call vote - no surprise in this context. SA 2542 included last minute, handwritten material, and we do not yet have the complete actual text. Reportedly, the modifications made on the Floor of the Senate affected the procedure for mandatory revocation by requiring "notice and a hearing not more than 30 days after the third violation is noted on an inspection report." It also modified the exemption language so that the only grounds on which the Secretary can determine not to revoke is "because of extraordinary extenuating circumstances." THE GORY DETAILS: Co-Sponsor Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) spoke in support of the amendment and had published in the Congressional Record for yesterday, following his remarks a chart that outlines the top 10 violations committed by commercial dog breeding facilities according to the USDA. and a letter from the Humane Society of the United States. This letter signed by Wayne Pacelle for HSUS and Lisa Weisberg for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also contained a "Q & A on Puppy Protection Act, S. 1478" based on the original bill and carefully worded to minimize the underlying facts and issues. Senator Santorum himself introduced his amendment with more misleading assertions. NEXT STEP: A Conference Committee representing both the Senate and House of Representatives will be convened to work out the differences in the respective versions of the Farm Bill. Once the conferees are determined, there will be additional lobbying. STAY TUNED ***** *a service of THE ANIMAL COUNCIL, P.O. BOX 168, MILLBRAE CA 94030 Published sporadically since 1997. Appropriate forwarding is encouraged. To be removed from the original distribution list only or change address, reply to the message. Legislative tracking is subject to continual change. CA information, bill subscriptions and law are available at: <http://www.leginfo.ca.gov> Federal Legislator Contact Info <http://www.congressol.com> -- Suze at Llawen Cavaliers "...I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man to depend simply upon himself." -Isna Ia-wica "Thought comes before speech" Luther Standing Bear ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
