1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

As a licensed veterinarian board-certified by both the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the American College of Animal Welfare, and a voting constituent, I am writing to urge you to oppose Section 12007 of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. This provision would override voter-approved state laws like California’s Proposition 12, which was enacted to reduce the sale of meat from animals subjected to extreme confinement. Proposition 12 and similar laws are rooted in both science and ethics—and they are essential to public health. Section 12007 would strip states of their right to protect residents from unsafe and morally objectionable products, violating the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, which affirmed states’ constitutional authority to regulate products sold within their borders based on legitimate moral and health concerns. The science is clear: confining pregnant pigs in gestation crates harms animals, jeopardizes food safety, and burdens our healthcare system. And let us defend our food system from the very real threats posed by extreme confinement and industry overreach. Thank you for your time and your service.