There were only 34 votes for the Ron Paul amendment to the US House Agriculture Appropriations Bill 5384 to defund the USDA’s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Although the amendment did not pass, I would like to give a big thanks to the US House legislators who voted for the amendment. I will be adding them to my Nice list in the right sidebar. What we did accomplish is making many more legislators aware of the issue.
If you would like to know how your legislators voted, see the roll call. Vermonters can thank Bernie Sanders who did vote “Aye” on the amendment to block funding to NAIS. I was surprised and pleased by his vote. He has not been very responsive to letters or phone calls. I hope that Mr. Sanders has seen the light and realized that NAIS is a very bad idea.
Many NoNAIS readers emailed me that they had contacted their legislators by phone and email only to discover that their representatives did not even know about NAIS. Educate them. This amendment was a step in the process of fighting NAIS. Keep up the good fight!
Below is a quote from a recent article that is in a similar vein about federal lawmakers withholding funding for NAIS:
Lawmakers threaten funding for animal IDs
Further money would be held until USDA releases specifics“It sounds like Congress is as fed up with animal ID as we are on this thing,” said Chris Waldrop of the Consumer Federation of America.
“They are just fumbling about and cobbling something together,” Waldrop said. “From my perspective, it makes sense to get something out for public comment that people could see where USDA is heading and try to actually go somewhere with it.”
-Desmoines Register
Hat tips to Dean & Norman
Looks like 34 more in the “Nice” column.
Comment Kamatu — May 24, 2006 @ 7:36 am
As far as I am concerned, every member of Congress who voted against the Paul amendment has broken faith with the American people, violated his oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and is a traitor to the people he is supposed to represent. I am extremely disappointed that my own Representative Butch Otter sided with big government, big business in this and though I supported him in the past, I will actively campaign against him in his bid to become Governor of Idaho.
Comment Patricia Hampton — May 24, 2006 @ 7:39 am
I’m tickled with “only” 34 votes! 14% of the House of Representatives voted in a roll call vote to *kill* a major government program! That’s big news!! That means we need only about 84 more in the House to actually kill NAIS, and we should start to get some more press attention with the 34 votes that we got.
My own personal thanks to Dr. Roscoe Bartlett, for being one of those 34, despite pressure he was getting from the pro-NAIS side…it took a lot of guts to do the right thing.
Tom A
Comment Bkeepr — May 24, 2006 @ 7:50 am
It looks like it was mostly republicans in favor of the bill. However, not enough of them voted correctly. Only 30 pushed for it. I think it’s funny, though, that every single Independant Party represententative (1) voted in our favor.
From the looks of it, most democrats seem to be in favor of NAIS up there (don’t yell at me if I’m wrong!) Is NAIS generally Democrat supported? I’m not of voting age yet, but I should probably learn where the different parties stand.
Comment Brad C — May 24, 2006 @ 8:34 am
I always knew my Representative was as weak as water. I am ashamed for my state too see that the representatives from WA voted No. They are pathetic excuses for our representation. Every time I have contacted one of our “elected officials” (I didn’t vote for any of this batch) about something important they have blown me off–from a corrupt workman’s comp insurance system not compensating me for documented jobsite injuries to NAIS and now this. And he’s a member of the House Ag Committee.
Our elected officials, it seems, care only for few things–their job security and themselves. They’ve given our National Parks away, they’re trying to control our animals and us with national ID schemes, they’re turning a blind eye as America’s farms are evaportating and our food comes from further and further away. Will they wake up before it is too late? Will they begin to listen to their constituants?
One good thing may come from increased fuel costs. The American Consumer has been hit where it counts–the wallet. Rich or poor it effects all of us and the increase in food costs is already here. If the NAIS continues and food costs climb higher people will be forced to eat worse and worse, cheaper and cheaper. Already things like bread flours, fruits and Wild Salmon prices are more than double what they have been. Who’s going to buy? The catch will be wasted. Markets will collapse and instead of the economy being in the toilet bowl it will be flushed. Surely the money NAIS is sucking up has better uses.
Rick Larsen, you will be hearing from me again, and again, and again.
Comment Podchef — May 24, 2006 @ 8:53 am
When I go to the HB5483 is shows this bill along with two other related bills and says passed with votes of 378 to 46 then when I go to the roll call it shows the 34 votes. Just what did pass?
Comment PAT — May 24, 2006 @ 9:14 am
I just wrote this letter to the above “Honorable Rick Larsen”:
Having tried to contact you in time to ask that you vote yes to Congressman Ron Paul’s Ammendment to the Agricultural Appropriations bill to defund the National Animal Identification System, I can see that I have failed myself and other small farmers like me.
I see that you voted “no”. May I ask why? Why you would allow the NAIS to continue to blindly spend money on a go nowhere, useless, redundant program which threatens small farmers, homesteaders and the personal freedom of anyone who deigns to own animals?
Why, when fuel prices are skyrocketing and the cost of farming is growing out of hand would you vote to increase the farmers burden with more paperwork and costs? Surely the money the NAIS is spending at an alarming rate could be spent better elsewhere. Surely the result of rising fuel costs and increased transportation costs leading to increased food costs–I have already seen items for my business and family double in cost these past few months, not to mention the ferry system wanting to add a fuel surcharge after wiping out other sources of moneys to pay for fuel–would be better addressed with the money slated for the NAIS. Let those who think the ID system is necessary pay for it themselves. Let the NIAA–Cargill, and the Beef consortiums–pay for it with the profits they will make from increased sales in the foreign market.
None of my livestock is destined for the foreign market. None of my livestock changes hands on the domestic market. Why do the Packing Houses need to know where and what I have? It can’t be for disease because I don’t sell on to the general market. My vet and his records can attest to the health of my animals. The USDA is out of control on this issue. They have become puppets of the corporate world and need a reality check. And they need it soon before we continue to pay thrice for everything any longer–first in taxes, second in the environmental impact of subsidized farming and the paradox of cheap food and third in what will become even more increased food costs as local markets are forced out of business due to costs and transportation costs rise to ship goods from centralized places.
We need to de-centralize our food source. Not only to prevent bio-terrorism (Which is on of the aims of the Centralization Specific NAIS), but to decrease costs and support communities and farms across America.
I entreat you to look further into the matter of the National Animal Identification System and all the totalitarian and Stalinistic implications. Australia, often lauded by the USDA and NAIS, hasn’t seen the success desired from their implimentation of such a system. It failed in Soviet Russia. It could well be the biggest boondoggle of our time. Please do some research. Visit http://www.nonais.org for more information on the public backlash against this system and to see what other states are doing. Washington is named after the first President. It is an agricultural state founded and supported by the toil of farmers. We need to fight to keep agriculture–not monoculture–in our state and in our Nation.
Thomas Jefferson said, “It is not too soon to provide by every
possible means that as few as possible shall be without a
little portion of land. The small landholders are the most
precious part of a state.” and, “I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural.”
Please do what you can to see that this remains so.
Sincerely, etc.
Comment Podchef — May 24, 2006 @ 9:29 am
Ok, Ok What do we do next? Blocking the funding would be just a bandaid anyway.. I hear the U.S.horse council is for this, Boo to them… Their members must have lots of money and little common sense, and can afford an unconstitutional infraction like NAIS. Personally I can’t afford it and everyone i talk to says the same thing … But talk is cheap! I have written all my represenatives so what now? I Thought when I voted we were getting a good man who cared about the people and the country but Boy was I wrong. Betty Rodgers Colorado
Comment Betty Rodgers — May 24, 2006 @ 9:33 am
HB5384, the Ag Appropriations bill, passed.
Ron Paul’s amendment blocking funding for NAIS failed.
Comment walterj — May 24, 2006 @ 9:58 am
Yes folks…the amendment was defeated. We didn’t have a reasonable chance of winning this minor skirmish. However, this will open doors that may have previously been closed!
If you have been unable to get your US Representative’s attention previously, you can get it NOW because…NOW you are a constituent contacting your rep to learn why they voted “no” for the amendment!
Perhaps they dodged your contacts before the vote…but they can’t dodge them NOW because NOW you are asking a specific question about a specific vote!
It’s all part of the game…it’s the way the game is played!
Use this minor set-back as a catalyst for dialogue! They HAVE to answer you when you ask for a reason for a SPECIFIC vote! This will open the door…SEIZE THE MOMENT and contact your US Representative NOW!!!
Comment Neil W. — May 24, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
To Brad C…
Brad; in my own experience…I have found that this issue does not seem to automatically follow party lines. I have found republicans who oppose (or at least question) the issue. And democrats who oppose (or at least question) the issue.
It would seem to be a topic that ALL republicans should favor, given the current Secretary of the USDA works for the current administration.
But that does not seem to be the case. This issue appears to cross party lines. Especially within the democratic party which you’d think would be supportive of the “little guys” (meaning the small acreage farmers and producers).
I think we have a very unique topic with NAIS. Because I have found no particular split (yet) among party lines in the elected officials that I have contacted.
Maybe both parties are waiting to see which way the wind is blowing. Or even more likely…we are seeing a universally misunderstood topic…few know enough about the topic to have yet formed an opinion.
Comment Neil W. — May 24, 2006 @ 12:30 pm
My Congressman just finished holding a town hall via computer.
A woman wrote in and stated her concerns about NAIS. He stated that “he shares her concerns and in fact yesterday voted FOR the Agriculture Appropriations bill which includes a provision to prevent the Dept of Ag from proceeding with plans to create a NAIS until it has satisfied the very sorts of concerns you mentioned. The bill also requires the Secretary of the Dept of Ag to submit a detailed plan to congress on proposed changes, cost estimates, etc. Finally, the bill requires a public comment period before an NAIS could be implemented so you will have time to offer your input on that process. Thank you again for your conerns and we’ll keep a close tab on this issue.” Congressman Brian Baird (WA)
Does anyone know if what he stated is true? Or is it all BS? Many people wrote and called asking him to vote FOR Ron Paul’s amendment, But he voted NO on that.
Valerie
Comment Valerie — May 24, 2006 @ 2:50 pm
I found the answer to my own question and wanted to share… This is good news!
Bill Language from the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill (passed full House 5/23/06):
“none of the funds appropriated under this heading for the National Animal Identification program may be obligated until the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives receives from the Secretary a complete and detailed plan for the National Animal Identification System, including, but not limited to, proposed legislative changes, cost estimates, and means of program evaluation, and such plan is published as an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register for comment by interested parties”
Report Language from the House Agriculture Appropriations Bill (passed full House 5/23/06):
“Animal Identification.-Through fiscal year 2006, a total of $84,700,000 has been provided for a National Animal Identification System. Of that amount, approximately $27,000,000 has been used for cooperative agreements with states and Tribes to assist in registration. The fiscal year 2007 request is for $33,107,000. Until August 2005, the Department had stated that program data would be held centrally; however, the Secretary announced in August that data would be held by private entities that meet certain requirements. In addition, the program is voluntary, but there have been mixed signals about participation becoming mandatory in the future. At least one state has made data collection compulsory, and states have the discretion to charge fees for registration. Given these management challenges, and the fact that just 10 percent of the premises have been registered, the Committee has concerns about the program. Premises identification is a necessary building block, but in itself does not offer any means of animal traceback. The Committee feels that all interested parties would benefit from a transparent process of decision making on the national plans for animal identification and therefore requires that the Secretary use an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to state the Administration’s plans for animal identification, and to solicit feedback from all interested parties.”
Representative Ron Paul Amendment:
15.H.AMDT.885 to H.R.5384
Title: An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds from being made available to implement or administer the National Animal Identification System.
Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [R-TX-14] (introduced 5/23/2006) Cosponsors: (none)
Latest Major Action: 5/23/2006 House amendment not agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Paul amendment (A015) Failed by recorded vote: 34 - 389 (Roll no. 184).
Comment Valerie — May 24, 2006 @ 3:34 pm
Yes, it would seem that we took a hit today,but I can also see where some good can be gotten out of this,My phone rang early and often with folks asking “What now”? My answer to them was, now we work even harder,this is one more step toward getting the word out,I called my congressman,who voted against me and it wasn’t too long I got a call from Washington from the head person saying that we needed to talk,I told them that I did not understand the logic behind his decision,and part of what was said lines up with what Valerie stated. so it seems that we got at least one fang in their backside although not maybe as we’d hoped but its somthing,I was able to explain to them that the info they had was full of misstatements and falsehoods and got them pretty angry at USDA when I was able to show where they’d been misinformed ,they said they would go back to the source and confront the information I also asked them to look into NIAA and see what they were all about,with all the illegal payoffs and such going on lately maybe some money has changed hands from them and someone might be able to connect the dots and have a case,a long shot ,but who knows?Any how We have got to stay focused,this wont go away overnight,I would say everyone should call their rep and if they voted for us,then thank them ,if they voted against us then express your displeasure,if we are just silent then the good ones may feel like they stuck their neck out for nothing and the bad ones may think we didnt notice,we have only begun to fight,and yes we can win!
Comment LEE — May 24, 2006 @ 8:48 pm
I just wrote a big “thank-you” to my house rep, Tom Tancredo. He was one of the few who voted for the amendment. I was thrilled!
Comment Dana — May 24, 2006 @ 10:04 pm
Unfortunately, ALL of Minnesota’s 8 reps voted against the Paul Amendment — both Republicans and Democrats. I don’t think this really splits by party lines. I think it is a combination of ignorance (how many legislators actually READ the bills they sign?) and heavy lobbying by big argicorps — with some panic about pandemics and terrorists thrown in for good (bad?) measure. Also, the University of Minnesota Ag school is 100% behind this and that carries some weight with a lot of people. However, the grassroots folks I’ve met are NOT behind it and that also splits down party lines. To me its a case of Congress bein gout of step with the people, period.
Comment rooster-lover — May 25, 2006 @ 6:53 am
Of course it failed. Look up a search on these words: “Biometric characteristic” .
The agenda is not just livestock, not only here…it is global.
Comment Patrick — May 25, 2006 @ 10:36 am
for the next 5 months i am going to be bugging everyone to run for
office..
august 9 is the cutoff day for filing as a write in….
this will give some of us a new
vantage point for influencing
people and prepare us for taking over the congress in 2008…if your state rep is ignoring you,you owe it to your district
to kick he or she out..it costs
nothing and you can devote as
little or as much of your time
as you desire..the main thing is to exercise your rights as
a citizen…..while you still
can..the way things are going
this could be the last window
of opportunity..it’s a matter of survival..not an ego trip..
sid sargent for state rep district 87 arkansas write-in
candidate siddartha@care2.com
Comment sid sargent — May 25, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
The Global agenda has been creeping up slowly. It will cover us in a blanket of darkness so heavy we won’t be able to breath. NAIS, RFID–all part of the “one ring to rule them all” state.
Comment Podchef — May 25, 2006 @ 10:39 pm
BIG THANKS to my local rep. Neil Abercrombie for being one of the 34 “nice” votes. I handed him NONAIS flyers on Earthday and at that point he hadn’t heard of the USDA’s plan. To see that he voted for the amendment made me feel like I might have made difference! On the other hand my other local rep. Ed Case belongs on the naughty list. I’m glad to see his vote though because now I know where he stands and I can NOT vote for him in the upcoming election! Keep up the fight everyone! Shannon
Comment Shannon — May 26, 2006 @ 10:48 pm
Walter I have a letter of reply from my Rep which I would like to forward to you but I don’t know how to sent an attachment to you. Help
Comment sharon mehler — May 29, 2006 @ 7:16 pm
Sharon, you can email an attachment if you like. Or just copy & paste the text. If it came in as email, please also send the full headers. -WJ
Comment walterj — May 30, 2006 @ 5:56 am
From: oberstarmail@mail.house.gov Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
To:
Subject: Correspondence From Congressman Oberstar
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 18:10:21 -0400
May 30, 2006
Dear Ms. Maricle:
Thank you for sharing with me your support for Representative Ron Paul’s amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 5384) which would prohibit funds from being used to implement the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). I appreciate hearing from you concerning this important issue.
I respectfully disagree with you. The United States is one of the last industrialized countries to develop a national livestock tracking system. NAIS is a voluntary national program intended to identify individual or groups of farm animals and record their movement over their lifespans. A key goal is the ability to identify all animals and premises potentially exposed to a foreign animal disease within 48 hours of its discovery. Interest in a comprehensive system has intensified in light of discoveries of mad cow disease in several North American cows, the spread of avian influenza, and ongoing concerns about bioterrorism.
Furthermore, H.R. 5384 already contains language that delays funds for the implementation of NAIS until the USDA publishes an advance notice for proposed rule-making with regard to the program.
The Paul amendment was overwhelmingly defeated by a vote of 34-389 on May 23.
Rest assured that while I understand your concerns for this legislation, I also recognize the need for legislation that will protect consumers and producers, and help the United States maintain positive relationships with worldwide trading partners.
If you would like to receive periodic e-mail updates on issues before Congress, please visit my Web site, www.house.gov/oberstar, and go to “subscribe.”
With best wishes.
Sincerely,
James L. Oberstar, M.C.
JLO/mb
Comment Susan Maricle — May 31, 2006 @ 8:28 am
Another example of an uniformed and uneducated knothead in a position of power who “ain’t got a clue”This is on the same tone as several of my local knotheads,always bringing up the point that the USA is the only kid on the block who hasn’t joined the club,WHAAAAA!all the other kids are doing it ,why won’t the American people let us be just like the rest of the nations!I remember parents used to deal with juniors little tantrum by asking, If all the other kiddies jump off a bridge,are you going to also, just so you can fit in? I for one am fed up with this stupid train of thought,just because the rest of the world (in general)is going to hell in a bucket does NOT mean that the USA,and every soverign state in the USA has to follow blindly along,what in thunder is the matter with so many of our leaders? I mean I knew freetrade and globalism were bad concepts but now it seems like theres a mindset that America has to be just like every other country on earth,WE HAVE A CONSTITUTION for one thing that is supposed to be the law of the land,and if some sorry excuse for a country or a politician that agrees with them,doesn’t like that they can just go to blazes!!!We don’t have a system here that kills ,robs ,destroys and seeks to oppress the people (generally speaking)like so many other nations have,we do not need to go down to the worlds level to see how good we have it and we should refuse to let America be lowered to the least common denominator just so some selfserving politican can feel good about himself, we put them there to represent US,NOT the rest of the world or BIGAGRIBIZ or anyone else US!! I believe we are making inroads to defeat this thing but fools masqerading as wisemen need to be focused on by the people,all the people,whether they are our personal reps or not,they need to hear from us and be made to know the error of their ways or removed from office by whatever means the people can bring to bear against them,like I’ve said before vote at the pols and at the market,dont support McD or Wallyworld if they wont support us and infact work to hurt us, all this crap is coming at us from big business seeking to expand and enhance their markets,lets see if we can hurt them in the purse,it wont be easy but then getting our freedom cost a lot of folks everything they had,so lets keep at it and educate the folks around us,together we will overcome this also! Thanks for letting me rant,have a great day!!
Comment LEE — May 31, 2006 @ 3:27 pm
This opens a brand new topic that I won’t get into, but for your review research “sustainable development” or “Agenda 21″, and “communitarian law”. All these, including NAIS are affecting our “global citizenship status”. Our constitution is being chopped away at and we are much more under the UN’s control through our signed “agreements” (FTAA, CAFTA, No Child Left Behind, etc)than we would like to believe. This is a piece meal distruction of our sovereignty.
Comment LuAnn — June 1, 2006 @ 9:21 am