Posted by LydiaScott on 03/13/09 03:34 AM Last updated 03/14/09 9:19 PM   [Newer: Defeat HR 875-information flyer] [Older: HR 875 The food police, criminalizing organic farming and the backyard gardener, and violation of the 10th amendment]

HR 875 is much more dastardly than I previous thought and this legislation is scaring the pants off me! Here is an informative article at the Natural News site, read it now.

http://www.naturalnews.com/025824.html

Quite a few individuals have contacted me and the good news is there are lots of everyday folks out there who are concerned. I would like to thank everyone who contacted me with stories, information and the interest to do something about this mess we are in.  We are not alone and we must stand together to defeat this bill.

We can not take any chance that this bill might go thru.  If there is one iota of a chance we need to be pounding the streets and hammer home the message, NO on HR 875.

Frankly, I don't care if someone wants to eat transfat, gmo's, chemical laden food or plastic fake food.  What I do care about is some food policing agency telling me how to eat! Put the info out there so people can make an informed choice and stop trying to tell us what to put in our bodies.

There are hundreds of small regional food assist programs that are administered by churches.  This legislation will most certainly put a stop to all the amazing and needed work they do. It can also effect community gardens, urban gardens and other non profit food assist programs.  I think they do a much better job with alot less resources than government assisted programs.

So far this bill is being steamrolled thru the House. Ok well not steam rolled but it has 36 sponsers and growing. It is not up for vote yet either so this gives us time to get the word out, let's use the time to our advantage. This is not good for people who gravitate toward the natural lifestyle.

Representative Rosa L. DeLauro (D - CT) is the woman who sponsored Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 HR875:

1. Her husband, Stan Greenberg, has MONSANTO as a client.

2. She received $180k in donations from agribusiness PAC's.

3. She's pals with Rahm Emanuel the guy who said we can't let a national crisis go to waste, let's put it to good use.

link to my previous ditty on HR 875

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=1267

So the House introduces about 400 new bills each week it is no wonder they can't read them all.  38 bills were introduced yesterday!  http://libertymaven.com/2009/03/12/how-is-congress-spending-its-time-%e2%80%94-and-our-money-part-8/4752/

Lucky for us that the bills are now available online so we can read them. Oh the irony!

 HR 875 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c111:1:./temp/~c1112RD9bb:e11439:  

 Action list- It is feet to the street! Get out there and share.

Download this flyer and share, share, share.

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=13332 

 Or create your own flyer and share, share, share.

1. Contact your members at 202-224-3121 and ask them to oppose HR 875. (Do this multiple times, repetition is golden) While you are at it ask them if they personally have read the legislation and what their position is? If they have not read the legislation ask them to read it and politely let them know that just because other representitives are not reading the legislation and voting on it does not mean they can do the same.
2. Personally go to the closest office of your Representative and take a copy of the afore mentioned flyer. (Do this multiple times, the more they see our smiling face the better they will understand we are not going away)  Ask to speak to the staffer that is most closely associated with HR 875. Be brief and let them know you are opposed to this legislation and give them the flyer.  Politely ask the Representative's position on the legislation.  If they support the legislation ask for a letter specifically giving the details of why the legislation is supported.  Tell them you do not want a form letter but a letter addressing the reasons of support. 
3. Fax the afore mentioned flyer to every office of your Representative in your district and state that they oppose HR 875. (It is time to hammer home the message.)  You can find the fax numbers here http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/
4. Get in touch with local farmers and food producers by attending a local farmers market and handing out the afore mentioned flyer and ask them to do the same. Let them know that this legislation will classify their farm as food production facility and they will now be shackeled with new beaucratic policies and requirements.
5. 
   Attend a local WAPF meeting pass out the afore mentioned flyer and ask them to do the same. The website is http://www.westonaprice.org/localchapters/index.html
6. 
   Check out the Farmers Legal Defense Fund and sign up if possible.  This group does important work that needs to be supported.   http://www.ftcldf.org/index.html
7. 
   Find out who sits on your states agriculture and farming committee and fax or mail them the afore mentioned flyer. Let them know you oppose this legislation has the potential to restrict the local food economy, home gardeners and it usurps your states sovereignty by violating the 10th amendment. Ask them to sponser a state soveriegnty resolution to prohibit the usurpation of the state's authority. Inform them this legislation legally binds state agriculture depts to enforcing federal guidelines effectively taking away the states power to do anything other than being food police for the federal dept.
8. This will not be covered by mainstream news.  It is up to us to get the word out and share the action plan with everyone and ask them to do the same. Use the afore mentioned flyer and put it everywhere that has a community board.  Farmers markets, natural markets, health food stores, wellness centers, chiropractic offices, farm and feed stores, rural and farming communities, garden and seed stores, natural health practioners and any else who will listen.
9. Attend a local city council and/or county council meeting and pass out the afore mentioned flyer to them.  Be brief and polite and let them know that this legislation will dramatically effect the local economy by classifying home gardeners and local farmers as food production facilities.  It has the potential to eliminate the individuals ability to grow thier own food and feed their families. Laws are meant to be enforced and there is no such thing as a law that won't be eventually enforced . Ask the county and city councils to pass a resolution that declares support for a thriving local food economy with emphasis on the value of the home gardeners, community gardens and local farmers. 
10. Lastly, use the email to send the flyer to people but try to avoid sending it to multiple people at a time.  This is not spam and should not be treated as such.  I say lastly because nothing can substitute a flyer being handed to someone or conversation between people.  We do want to include email and internet boards,ect for sharing the information.  But let us not rely soley on the internet.  IT will take getting out there, nothing beats a smile and personal touch.  WE are humans and are social, let's put it to good use.

There is strength in numbers so lets get out there and plaster this information everywhere.  Talk it up and get the word out.  If this passes it will be our own fault, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.  Sure, this is complex mess we are in and is certainly about more than just food or gardening or local farmers.  Think this is overkill?  Well, Saturation is the effect I was going for, and repetition.  Funny thing about repetiton is it works!

I want to comment briefly about our national heritage, our American heritage.  We come from a strong and solid agrarian culture.  We have farmers all the way back to the beginning in the 16th century. We come from a long line of rugged and self reliant individuals, man and woman.  Yikes, I doubt many of us now a days would survive in those same conditions.  So before you disregard what I am saying do some research.  And while you are at it read  "The 5000 Year Leap" available at www.jbs.com

Yes, our elected officials somewhere along the line stopped listening to us and started listening to lobbyists.  And we allowed it to happen.

Somewhere along the line the idea developed that government is supposed to take care of us cradle to grave.  And now we have legislation passed and being passed that restricts the individual from being self reliant and productive.  Corruption is running amok at all levels of government, there are two sets of laws; the laws we follow and those who are above the law,  corporations enjoy the benefits of being a corporation and the benefits of the individual, our money is losing purchase power everyday, our elected officials are addicted to spending-they have a spending habit that has already shackeled future generations with economic bondage, it will lead to no good.  Have you had enough yet??

Posted 03/15/09 10:20 AM Sigy380 Jackson, TN

Thanks Lydia. I will be sharing this info with everyone at our next county meeting on the 21st.

Posted 03/15/09 12:45 PM IndyCindy Oolitic, IN

Lydia, I saw this as an opportunity to look and take a bit of a different approach to this since Indiana was one of the states to do a "Sovereignty Resolution." At a local meeting on Saturday with a IN State Senator and 2 State Reps, I took the opportunity to speak to the two reps individually after the meeting. I told them that the Resolution was all fine and dandy, BUT.... WHEN were we as a state going to start putting our foot down and say, "We will not be participating in your program?" I used NAIS as an example of how it would be up to the States to do the enforcing, thus increasing the size and budget of State government. One of them want me to send her more info on NAIS. This is possibly just one more angle to hit it from. In your #9 - What part of the bill are you seeing that would classify backyard and community gardens as food production facilities? I do not read that anywhere.

Posted 03/15/09 8:44 PM LydiaScott South Bend, IN

The bill does not explicitly prohibit backyard gardening. What it does is include backyard gardens in the definition of Food Production Facilities. Sneaky, sneaky......

Posted 03/15/09 9:59 PM wilsonpwt Groveport, OH

I have been sending information about HR 875 to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. I started with Washington and working back. I'm to Texas now. Any help in doing this is appreciated. Below is the link: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ I am also contacting farms listed as having real milk: http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html This makes it easy to voice your concern: http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=12878056 Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 HR875 Tell Congress to Improve Food Safety by Stopping Factory Farming Take Action Now! Enter Your Zip Code: http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=12878056 HR 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, is a limited-vision attempt by moderate Democrats and Republicans to craft food safety legislation to address the out-of-control filth and contamination that are inherent in our industrialized, now globalized, "profit-at-any-cost" food system. This being said, OCA does not support HR 875 in its present form, given the fact that, if the bill's regulations were applied in a one-size-fits-all manner to certified organic and farm-to-consumer operations, it could have a devastating impact on small farmers, especially raw milk producers who are already unfairly targeted by state food-safety regulators. Although the OCA deems this bill somewhat well-intentioned, we are calling on Congress to focus its attention on the real threats to food safety: globalized food sourcing from nations such as China where food safety is a travesty and domestic industrial-scale and factory farms whose collateral damage includes pesticide and antibiotic-tainted food, mad cow disease, E.coli contamination and salmonella poisoning. And, of course, Congress and the Obama Administration need to support a massive transition to organic farming practices. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ Paul Turner Keep in mind these Bills fit the profile for how they want to implement Codex Alimentarius where the regulations and fines will essentially put small farming further in jeopardy.

Posted 03/16/09 02:00 AM wilsonpwt Groveport, OH

I have been sending information about HR 875 to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. I started with Washington and working back. I'm to Texas now. Any help in doing this is appreciated. Below is the link: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ I am also contacting farms listed as having real milk: http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html This makes it easy to voice your concern: http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=12878056 Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 HR875 Tell Congress to Improve Food Safety by Stopping Factory Farming Take Action Now! Enter Your Zip Code: http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=12878056 HR 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, is a limited-vision attempt by moderate Democrats and Republicans to craft food safety legislation to address the out-of-control filth and contamination that are inherent in our industrialized, now globalized, "profit-at-any-cost" food system. This being said, OCA does not support HR 875 in its present form, given the fact that, if the bill's regulations were applied in a one-size-fits-all manner to certified organic and farm-to-consumer operations, it could have a devastating impact on small farmers, especially raw milk producers who are already unfairly targeted by state food-safety regulators. Although the OCA deems this bill somewhat well-intentioned, we are calling on Congress to focus its attention on the real threats to food safety: globalized food sourcing from nations such as China where food safety is a travesty and domestic industrial-scale and factory farms whose collateral damage includes pesticide and antibiotic-tainted food, mad cow disease, E.coli contamination and salmonella poisoning. And, of course, Congress and the Obama Administration need to support a massive transition to organic farming practices. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ Paul Turner Keep in mind these Bills fit the profile for how they want to implement Codex Alimentarius where the regulations and fines will essentially put small farming further in jeopardy.

Posted 03/16/09 02:09 AM wilsonpwt Groveport, OH

I have been sending information about HR 875 to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms. I started with Washington and working back. I'm to Texas now. Any help in doing this is appreciated. Below is the link: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ I am also contacting farms listed as having real milk: http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html This makes it easy to voice your concern: http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=12878056 Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 HR875 Tell Congress to Improve Food Safety by Stopping Factory Farming Take Action Now! Enter Your Zip Code: http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=12878056 HR 875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, is a limited-vision attempt by moderate Democrats and Republicans to craft food safety legislation to address the out-of-control filth and contamination that are inherent in our industrialized, now globalized, "profit-at-any-cost" food system. This being said, OCA does not support HR 875 in its present form, given the fact that, if the bill's regulations were applied in a one-size-fits-all manner to certified organic and farm-to-consumer operations, it could have a devastating impact on small farmers, especially raw milk producers who are already unfairly targeted by state food-safety regulators. Although the OCA deems this bill somewhat well-intentioned, we are calling on Congress to focus its attention on the real threats to food safety: globalized food sourcing from nations such as China where food safety is a travesty and domestic industrial-scale and factory farms whose collateral damage includes pesticide and antibiotic-tainted food, mad cow disease, E.coli contamination and salmonella poisoning. And, of course, Congress and the Obama Administration need to support a massive transition to organic farming practices. http://www.organicconsumers.org/ Paul Turner Keep in mind these Bills fit the profile for how they want to implement Codex Alimentarius where the regulations and fines will essentially put small farming further in jeopardy.

Posted 03/16/09 3:59 PM BBLiberty Pekin, IL

Thanks for making this so easy! It will be a fight, but now we have the tools. Thanks again.

Posted 03/17/09 8:57 PM IndyCindy Oolitic, IN

Lydia, I saw this as an opportunity to look and take a bit of a different approach to this since Indiana was one of the states to do a "Sovereignty Resolution." At a local meeting on Saturday with a IN State Senator and 2 State Reps, I took the opportunity to speak to the two reps individually after the meeting. I told them that the Resolution was all fine and dandy, BUT.... WHEN were we as a state going to start putting our foot down and say, "We will not be participating in your program?" I used NAIS as an example of how it would be up to the States to do the enforcing, thus increasing the size and budget of State government. One of them want me to send her more info on NAIS. This is possibly just one more angle to hit it from. In your #9 - What part of the bill are you seeing that would classify backyard and community gardens as food production facilities? I do not read that anywhere.

Posted 03/17/09 9:12 PM IndyCindy Oolitic, IN

Whoops, sorry for that double post. Did a page refresh after doing the old "dial-up" again and it sent my post again.

Posted 03/20/09 8:16 PM LydiaScott South Bend, IN

Hi IndyCindy, Read the definitions portion of the bill in Section 3 under food production facilities. In fact read all of the definitions, they are interesting and thought provoking. Thanks for talking to your representitives and urging them to put the foot down and stop praticipaing with the program.

Posted 03/26/09 4:07 PM farmblogger Denver, CO

Here is an online petition you can sign to help stop HR 875: http://www.leavemyfoodalone.org/ Spread the word!

Posted 04/03/09 8:30 PM mybug67 Huntington Beach, CA

I think there's 42 cosponsors for this bill and also may vote in 2 weeks!!!

Posted 04/06/09 08:44 AM Sharon Prairie Du Rocher, IL

When one writes a bill with such sweeping language that does not specifically exclude small farmers, roadside veggies stands, and home gardens it causes confusion and apprehension. So here is the question: Wouldn't this entire mess just be cleared up if simple language, you know the Keep It Simple Silly principle, was applied? How about: "No foodstuffs produced by American Citizens on their own property for their own consumption, sharing with neighbors or to supplement other hungry individuals during these Economically Challenging times shall be covered by HR 875." I mean - we expect results - let us tell the legislators what we want. Maybe that is too simple - but look at the situation we are in now by writing thousand page Bills.

Posted 04/06/09 9:31 PM RalphFucetolaJD Newton, NJ

Thanks for posting about this. I also posted a blog entry on the connection between Codex and (sic) Food Safety: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=15237 Also, our Health Freedom Action eAlert at: http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/?p=2413