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Advocacy in action
 Advocacy in review
As 2007 begins, it offers us a chance to reflect on the past
year and look forward to the future. I take this opportunity to
bring you up to speed with our major advocacy efforts and share
some thoughts about the challenges facing our profession and the
swine industry in general.
We addressed a number of legislative and regulatory issues in
2006. The Horse Slaughter Bill (H.R. 503, S. 1915) passed the US
House of Representatives in September and has been forwarded to the
Senate for consideration. This bill, effectively outlawing the
slaughter of horses for human consumption, was introduced after a
similar law prohibiting use of federal tax dollars to fund
inspection of horse meat intended for human consumption failed to
halt the slaughter of horses. This legislation is opposed by most
veterinary associations, as it fails to address the future
treatment of animals currently destined for slaughter.
A ballot initiative, Proposition 204, to ban sow gestation
stalls and veal crates in Arizona, passed during the midterm
election in November. Although opposed by most livestock producers
and veterinary groups and the Secretary of Agriculture, the
measure, supported by the animal activist groups Humane Society of
the US and Farm Sanctuary, passed by a 61%-39% margin. This
legislation makes it a criminal offense to confine a veal calf or
pregnant pig in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down
and fully extending its limbs or turning around freely. It is
punishable by fines of up to $20,000 and 6 months in prison. The
initiative will take effect December 31, 2012. A similar measure
was approved in Florida in 2002.
On the positive side, both the US House and the Senate passed
the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, which broadens the definition
of an animal enterprise to include agriculture, research, food
production, zoos, aquariums, and rodeos. The law expands the
judiciary’s authority to prosecute cases of terrorist acts
directed towards individuals and companies involved in or doing
business with animal enterprises.
From the veterinary perspective, two legislative efforts were on
the forefront in 2006. The first, the National Veterinary Medical
Services Act (P.L. 108-161), allows for establishment of a federal
veterinary loan repayment program for veterinary students willing
to practice in shortage situations, eg, rural and inner-city areas,
government service such as food safety and public health, and
federal disaster responses. Although signed into law in 2003, the
bill had previously not been funded. In 2006, it received a
$500,000 appropriation from Congress, allowing the USDA to begin
writing the program’s regulations. More funding is necessary
to initiate a functional pilot program. The AVMA estimates that it
will require approximately $60 million over 3 years.
Second, the Veterinary Workforce Expansion Act (H.R. 2206, S.
914) proposes a competitive grants program to increase the number
of veterinarians addressing public health needs. These grants will
expand capacity and services at existing schools, including
teaching laboratories, research facilities, classrooms, and
administrative space. It is estimated that, by 2025, there will be
a total shortage of approximately 15,000 veterinarians in the
United States. As of November, the bill had been referred for
review to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
On the regulatory front, in response to a legal petition
submitted by a number of animal rights organizations, the USDA has
determined that the legislation governing the transportation of
animals, commonly referred to as the “Twenty-Eight Hour
Law,” applies to livestock transported by truck. The law,
initially enacted in 1873 and applying exclusively to
transportation of animals by rail, was amended in 1994 to include
transportation by express or common carriers involving confinement
in a “vehicle or vessel.” The USDA had previously not
interpreted the regulation to apply to transport by truck. The law
requires that animals being transported interstate must be unloaded
for feeding, water, and rest after 28 consecutive hours. Although
not likely to have much effect on swine shipments within the United
States, it could impact shipments transiting the United States
between Canada and Mexico.
A look to the future is in order. I anticipate that animal
welfare issues will continue to enter the legislative arena at
national and state levels as we move toward elections. Animal
activist groups, emboldened by their recent ballot initiative
successes in Florida and Arizona, are likely to use similar tactics
to further their agenda. We also have to look forward to the
upcoming debate over the next Farm Bill, which will likely be a key
topic in 2007, with significant implications for agriculture. In
addition, USDA will continue to debate the future of a national
animal identification system.
The AASV will also actively promote enhancements to the current
diagnostic and surveillance systems. The Department of Homeland
Security is proposing a replacement facility for the Plum Island
Animal Disease Center (PIADC) called the National Bio and
Agro-defense Facility. We must insert ourselves into this process
to ensure that this facility will adequately meet our needs and
that the PIADC is supported in the interim. The AASV is
aggressively involved in this process and in the search for a new
PIADC director.
Finally, food safety issues will continue to be an area of
focus, and there will be additional trade issues to address and
further discussion on the implications of feral swine. It’s
likely to be another busy year.
--Harry Snelson
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