And What We Can Do to Stop It
A conversation with
JOE MAXWELL
President, Farm Action Fund
Wednesday, August 7 at 7:00 pm CT
Join JFAN and Farm Action Fund President Joe Maxwell as we talk about Big Meat’s latest tactic to defeat Proposition 12 – the federal Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act (H.R.8467).
Big Meat waged a five-year legal battle against California’s Proposition 12 that they lost in 2023 at the US Supreme Court. Not willing to sit back and adapt to raising hogs without gestation crates, the livestock industry heavily lobbied Congress to negate Prop 12 through the EATS Act, a Farm Bill marker bill.
If passed, EATS Act would mandate that the weakest laws in the nation governing meat, dairy and egg products, as well as toxic pesticide usage, would become the national standard. States would be stripped of their right to enact anything more stringent and protective.
In a podcast format, JFAN Executive Director Diane Rosenberg will interview Joe Maxwell, President of Farm Action Fund, and cover the numerous ways the EATS Act would harmfully impact rural communities, farmers, and consumers.
They’ll also dive into the backstory including:
A brief history of Prop 12 and the similar Massachusetts Question 3 and Big Meat’s efforts to end states’ rights
Agribusinesses that back the bill and federal legislators supporting it, including Iowa’s Congressional delegation
Big Meat’s tactics to drive public opinion
Legislators and organizations opposing the EATS Act
Its current status in the House and Senate Farm Bills
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s position and influence
International corporations in China and Brazil that are pushing hard for its passage – and why
Its threat to national food sovereignty and safety.
Most importantly, we’ll address widespread efforts that are being taken to stop passage of the EATS Act and what you can do to help defeat this terrible legislation – even here in Iowa.
There will be plenty of opportunity for audience questions and answers.
ABOUT JOE MAXWELL
Joe Maxwell, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Farm Action and President of Farm Action Fund, is actively involved in working to defeat the EATS Act, including co-founding Defeat EATS , a coalition of 120 organizations of which JFAN is a member.
Maxwell has a long and varied career advocating for traditional, independent farming practices. He’s held key positions in both political and initiative petition campaigns. During the last election cycle, Maxwell assisted Presidential, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives candidates in developing their antitrust, agriculture, and food policy positions.
Maxwell served as a Missouri elected official for 14 years as a state legislator and Lt. Governor where he pushed for legislation supporting traditional animal husbandry while opposing large-scale, industrial livestock facilities. He and his brother are Missouri family farmers.
The webinar is free and pre-registration is required. REGISTER HERE