Government Control

[boatbaby]

United States Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has proposed

legislation, *H.R. 875*, which *would literally prohibit Americans from

raising food* for themselves, their families, or *even for their

animals*, without the */uber alles/ national government's permission!*

Extreme statement? NOT! *H.R. 875 makes Americans serfs on their own

land!* Read on; this one bill could wipe the United States, /as a free

nation/, from the face of the Earth! *We urgently need your help to kill

this extremely dangerous bill!*

 

*H.R. 875, the so-called Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 (FSMA)*

sounds innocent enough at first blush, with language purporting to

"protect the public health by preventing food-borne illness, ensuring

the safety of food, improving research on contaminants leading to

food-borne illness, and improving security of food from intentional

contamination, and for other purposes." In reality, *the FSMA is an

extensive and all-controlling abomination that must be stopped!*

 

The *FSMA mandates registration* of every "food production facility,"

which the bill defines as *"any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard,

aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation;" and every*

"food establishment," which the bill defines as "a slaughterhouse...,

factory, warehouse, *or facility owned or operated by a person located

in any State that processes food or a facility that holds, stores, or

transports food or food ingredients."*

 

*H.R. 875 makes NAIS look tame.* This bill will not just sweep up

commercial food operations. The fine print of the FSMA will subject

hobby gardeners, home canners, anyone with a few chickens, or anyone who

"holds, stores, or transports food" - including mushrooms or wild

berries gathered in the wild - to registration, extensive management,

and inspection by a huge new bureaucracy, the Food Safety Administration

(FSA)- even if the food items will only be consumed personally. And

registration must be via "an electronic portal," which will be costly

and difficult for those without computers.

 

*H.R. 875 exponentially advances the "Foodborne Disease Surveillance

Systems" required of member states of the World Health Organization

(WHO)*, which includes the United States. "Food establishments" will be

required to adopt preventive process controls, *including implementing

recordkeeping and labeling of all food and food ingredients to

facilitate their identification and traceability, /including

instructions for handling and preparation for consumption./* This might

sound rather reasonable... until you remember the definition of a "food

establishment" above.

 

Immensely telling of how seriously this bill */does not/* take "food

safety," though, is Section 204(2)©, which promises the Administrator

will identify the "5 most significant (food) contaminants", and */"not

later than 3 years after a contaminant is so identified/*, the

Administrator shall promulgate a performance standard..." Gee whiz,

what's the rush?

 

Perhaps *the Administrator's promulgation timetable has little to do

with acting quickly and decisively to protect U.S. citizens* (or even

"*/all people/* in the United States" as required by the FSMA) and much,

much more to do with the World Health Organization's stated desire in

its 2004 report entitled *_"FOODBORNE DISEASE MONITORING AND

SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS"_* that "the objectives and strategies (of food

borne disease surveillance systems) established by each country should

be */acceptable to all member countries/*

(www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/006/j2381e.htm)

<http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/006/j2381e.htm>," which doubtless

would take time.

 

Perhaps it is because *"studies linking pathogens in food to the disease

in humans would help quantify the risk of food borne diseases."* In

other words, *no entity*, not the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC), and not the WHO, *can prove a significant problem

/_exists in the United States._/*

 

The FSMA will not even quickly implement protections for Americans from

contaminated foreign foodstuffs. The bill states, "(n)ot later than *2

years* after the date of the enactment of this Act" imported food

products shall be certified safe "by the accredited foreign government

(think CHINA!) or by an accredited certifying agent..." Again, what's

the rush?

 

Maddeningly, the *FSMA expects Congress to again approve a far-reaching

bill without knowing the details.* In this case, Congress will find out

much later:

 

* what federal resources would be dedicated to foodborne illness and

food safety research;

 

* what transfer of agencies, personnel, assets, obligations, and

consolidation, reorganization, or streamlining of agencies will be

involved; and

 

* the details of regulations the new Food Czar (Administrator of the

FSA) will promulgate after enactment of the Act.

 

 

 

Among the statutory foundations the FSMA claims for guidance and

authority is the *National Animal Identification System*, which *HAS

NEVER BEEN ENACTED INTO LAW BY CONGRESS!*

 

But beyond the *mandated violations of our civil liberties* in the FSMA

- registration, traceability, inspections, seizures, etc. (all without

court orders or search warrants), - *the truly chilling language lays

out civil and criminal penalties of up to $1 million per day, per

infraction, and imprisonment of five or ten years, or both, depending

how serious the violation(s).*

 

Additionally, "(a)n order assessing a civil penalty against a person...

*_shall be a final order_* unless the person-- (A) not later than 30

days after the effective date of the order, files a petition for

judicial review of the order in the United States court of appeals...

(and) (t)he findings of the Administrator relating to the order shall be

set aside *only if found to be unsupported by /substantial evidence on

the record as a whole./"* The FSMA is so over-the-top in its overreach

that the bill's language states, *"(t)he validity and appropriateness of

the order of the Administrator assessing the civil penalty _shall not be

subject to judicial review_."*

 

And if you're by now thinking this is about as outrageous as this bill

can be, you'd be very wrong. Section 406 clearly states, *"(i)n any

action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the

connection with interstate commerce /_required for jurisdiction_/ SHALL

BE PRESUMED TO EXIST."*

 

Now, for those who noticed, and questioned, why "foodborne" is spelled

as if we reside "on the Continent," and why the United States government

is attempting to implement a "solution" wanting for a "problem" - you

guessed it - *"Foodborne Disease Monitoring and Surveillance Systems"

are a priority with the World Health Organization*, to which our

national government has committed US through its membership.

 

The 53rd World Health Assembly (a branch of the WHO) in the year 2000

adopted a resolution to recognize food safety as an essential public

health function and called for the development of a *Global Strategy*

for reduction of the burden of food borne diseases. The resolution (WHA

53.15) encouraged member states "to implement and keep national, and

when appropriate, regional mechanisms for food borne diseases

surveillance." All this, despite the WHO admission in a 2004 report

(www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/006/j2381e.htm)

<http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/006/j2381e.htm> that *"(t)he true

dimension of the burden of food borne diseases is still unknown..."*

 

*The FSMA is a "government solution" in seek of a problem!* In the year

1900 at least some cases in two of the ten leading causes of death might

have been food related (diarrhea/enteritis, liver disease). But the twin

leading causes were pneumonia, followed closely by tuberculosis.

 

In 2002, WHO listed the leading cause of death in the U.S.

(www.who.int/whosis/mort/profiles/mort_amro_usa_

unitedstatesofamerica.pdf)

<http://www.who.int/whosis/mort/profiles/mort_amro_usa_unitedstatesofamerica.pdf>

as ischaemic heart disease, killing ~ 514,000 people. The second

greatest cause was cerebrovascular disease (stroke), killing ~ 163,000.

*None of the top ten causes bore any relation to foodborne illness.*

 

In apparent support of all this brazen, strong-arm command and control

attempt, the CDC reports its */estimate/* that every year in the United

States sees approximately 76 million cases of foodborne illness

(www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/safe/foodborne.html)

<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/safe/foodborne.html>, with

325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths (which equates to one death

out of every 15,200 who become ill). Admittedly those 5,000 deaths are

significant, and devastating to all those involved, but this figure must

be put in perspective. We must consider the larger picture long before

we even consider such draconian measures as those mandated by the FSMA.

 

Perhaps too little is known of reports that *"iatrogenic events"* -

medical errors - *kill almost 800,000 in the U.S. each year*

(www.whale.to/a/null9.html#Underreporting_of_Iatrogenic_Events_)

<http://www.whale.to/a/null9.html#Underreporting_of_Iatrogenic_Events_>.

That's the equivalent of six jumbo jets falling out the sky each and

every day. Those who track these events believe as few as 5% and no more

than 20% of these deaths are ever reported.

 

Clearly deaths resulting from foodborne disease are exponentially lower

than these other major causes, which begs an obvious question: *If

Congress is so very concerned about our health, why haven't they felt

inclined to tackle the much more significant incidence of iatrogenic

deaths in this nation?* Hmmm?

 

One need only consider the "Healthy People 2010" goals

(www.healthypeople.gov/About/goals.htm)

<http://www.healthypeople.gov/About/goals.htm> to understand the true

(A)genda behind this initiative.

 

*_ACTION TO TAKE_*

 

*The FSMA is an extremely dangerous bill. /We recommend a multi-prong

attack/*, as the more salvos we throw at the FSMA the better chance we

have of killing this abomination.

 

* *Contact House Speaker Nancy Pelosi*, via phone: (202) 225-0100,

or email: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/.

 

 

 

* *Contact the House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer*, via phone:

202.225.3130, or email:

www.majorityleader.gov/email_and_rss/email_the_leader/

<http://www.majorityleader.gov/email_and_rss/email_the_leader/>.

 

 

 

* *Contact the House Republican Leader John Boehner*, via phone:

(202) 225-4000, fax: (202) 225-5117, or email:

http://republicanleader.house.gov/Contact/.

 

 

 

*On March 11th Congress will hold its first hearing in many years on the

National Animal Identification System (NAIS)*, conducted by the

Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee. It is vitally important you

contact all the committees below.

 

* *Contact the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee members*

listed below. If one of the Subcommittee members is from your

state, call that member.

 

Mike Rogers (R-AL)

Phone: 202-225-3261

Fax: 202-226-8485

 

Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)

Phone: 202-225-6131

Fax: 202-225-0819

 

Jim Costa (D-CA)

Phone: 202-225-3341

Fax: 202-225-9308

 

Joe Baca (D-CA)

Phone: 202-225-6161

Fax: 202-225-8671

 

Betsy Markey (D-CO)

Phone: 202-225-4676

Fax: 202-225-5870

 

David Scott (Chair), (D-GA)

Phone: 202-225-2939

Fax: 202-225-4628

 

Leonard Boswell (D-IA)

Phone: 202-225-3806

Fax: 202-225-5608

 

Steve King (R-IA)

Phone: 202-225-4426

Fax: 202-225-3193

 

Walt Minnick (D-ID)

Phone: 202-225-6611

Fax: 202-225-3029

 

Frank Kratovil, Jr. (D-MD)

Phone: 202-225-5311

Fax: 202-225-0254

 

Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Phone: 202-225-6435

Fax: 202-225-0207

 

Tim Holden (D-PA)

Phone: 202-225-5546

Fax: 202-226-0996

 

David P. Roe (R-TN)

Phone: 202-225-6356

Fax: 202-225-5714

 

K. Michael Conaway (R-TX)

Phone: 202-225-3605 or 866-882-381

Fax: 202-225-1783

 

Randy Neugebauer, Ranking Minority Member (R-TX)

Phone: 202-225-4005 or 888-763-1611

Fax: 202-225-9615

 

Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)

Phone: 202-225-5431

Fax: 202-225-9681

 

Steve Kagen (D-WI)

Phone: 202-225-5665

Fax: 202-225-5729

 

* *Contact your own Representative* and ask him or her to approach

the Subcommittee member to urge them to oppose NAIS.

 

 

If you're not sure who represents you, click here: www.congress.org/

<http://www.congress.org/>.

 

*We strongly recommend that you make at least your initial contact by

telephone.*

 

Additionally, H.R. 875 has been assigned to the committees on Energy and

Commerce, and Agriculture.

 

* *Contact members of the Energy and Commerce Committee* via phone:

(202) 225-2927, or email:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_

content&task=view&id=1313&Itemid=1

<http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1313&Itemid=1>.

 

 

* *Contact members of the Agriculture Committee* via phone:

202-225-2171, fax: 202-225-8510, or email:

agriculture@mail.house.gov <mailto:agriculture@mail.house.gov>.

Committee members are listed here:

http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/members.html.

 

 

*Make as many contacts as possible. /_Be polite, but firm._/ *

 

* *Tell them Americans will not stand for this unwarranted and

unconstitutional abrogation of our liberty!*

 

* *Tell them _THIS BILL NEEDS TO DIE IN COMMITTEE_!!!*

 

Visit the American Policy Center website <http://www.americanpolicy.org/>

 

 

 

 

*

[boatbaby]

So now they want to control our food. What will they want control of next?

[Trimdingman]

So now they want to control our food. What will they want control of next?

 

Every year, the difference between our government and the old USSR is less. Why do we continue to drift in this direction? The percent of tax you pay is a rough indicator of the percent of freedom you have lost. Without this massive amount of tax money, the government would lose much of its dictatorial power. That is why America was created, right. Wasn't it because England was charging too much tax? How much tax is your own government charging? Is it more than England was charging? Were you all taken for idiots?

[ktp22]

elect a socialist, you get socialism

[Stugots]

If it is passed into a law then just break that law. As an American it is your civl duty to disobey and break unjust laws. Just don't hurt anyone or infringe on the rights of others. Other than that fuck the law. Do what you feel you must. Do you speed? That's a law most of us break every day. If we're caught we pay the consequences. How would they be able to even enforce such a law?

[Stugots]

The government is supposed to fear its citizens. Not the other way around.

[fmccap]

If it is passed into a law then just break that law. As an American it is your civl duty to disobey and break unjust laws. Just don't hurt anyone or infringe on the rights of others. Other than that fuck the law. Do what you feel you must. Do you speed? That's a law most of us break every day. If we're caught we pay the consequences. How would they be able to even enforce such a law?

Basically it will put the small ones out of buisness.

 

Change We Can Believe In: How About the End of Farmers Markets? Say Hello to H.R. 875: Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009

I’ve bought food at several farmers markets for years and I have yet to meet any vendors who are fond of the government. I think it’s pretty safe to say that most vendors at farmers markets won’t go along with this. The problem will be that the people who run the farmers markets will be forced to make sure that vendors are “registered” with the government.

 

Is this Change we can believe in? Maybe it is for Obama’s Secretary of Agriculture, Tom “I Fly with Monsanto” Vilsack.

[Builderdad]

The orignal post is copied from the American Policy center website. The American Policy Center is one of the nation’s leading grassroots activist organizations. Before forming and posting your replies/opinions please read the bill as written for yourself, not someone else's view of it.

 

 

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875

[Emigh]

The orignal post is copied from the American Policy center website. The American Policy Center is one of the nation’s leading grassroots activist organizations. Before forming and posting your replies/opinions please read the bill as written for yourself, not someone else's view of it.

 

 

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875

Good post.

[Stugots]

Regardless of this bills intent or the language in its entirety, it's still your duty as an American to disobey unjust laws. So again as long as you don't hurt anyone or infringe on the rights of another. Do what you want to. That's the true American way.

[boatbaby]

The orignal post is copied from the American Policy center website. The American Policy Center is one of the nation’s leading grassroots activist organizations. Before forming and posting your replies/opinions please read the bill as written for yourself, not someone else's view of it.

 

 

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875

 

I did not get this post from the American Policy center website. And I looked over the bill in your link, I don't see anything that it telling me any different than what I originally posted. I put this out there to inform people, there are many people who grow there own vegetables and I have friends that own small farms that this would affect. Nothing wrong with informing people.

I don't like how the Government is taking over so many aspects of our life.

[jt150]

This is absolute bullshit. When will we rise up to defeat such tyranny? These people are out of control. All they need to worry about is running the govt , military and stay the fuck out of my life. I do not want the govt. intruding into every aspect of my life which is what they are getting to. I saw in an earlier post someone wrote " elect a socailist get a socailist" This goes way beyond that ALL OF WASHINGTON needs to be taken out behind the wood shed. When did common sense leave every person in washington. I can't believe this shit, what or who gives them the right? I'd like to see these fuckers stop me from growing my own fruits and veggies, processing my own meat, and so on. Take my guns???? I DON"T FUCKIN THINK SO!!!!!! You'll pry it out of my cold dead hand YOU BASTARD. LIBERALISM IS A CANCER IN THIS COUNTRY AND MUST BE ERRADICATED!!!!!!!!!! WHERE DOES THIS SHIT STOP!!!!! I'LL TELL YOU, AS SOON AS WE AS AMERICANS STAND TOGETHER AGAINST THIS GOVT. INJUSTICE VOTE THEIR ASSES OUT AND PUT PEOPLE IN THESE OFFICES WITH SOME GODDAMN COMMON SENSE AND MORALS. I'M SICK OF THIS SHIT AND I'VE HAD ENOUGHT OF IT, WITH THEIR NATIONAL HEALTH CARE WE ALREADY HAVE THIS IN THIS COUNTRY JUST ASK OCTOMOM 8 BIRTHS!!!! AND SHE HAS'NT PAID ONE DIME FOR IT!!!!!!!! ONE MORE THING SINCE MY AND EVERBODY ELSE'S TAXES ARE PAYING FOR THIS CHICK'S 14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCKIN KIDS,AM I GOING TO GET A SAY IN HOW THEY ARE TO BE RAISED ??????? NOW THIS???????? ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? WHAT THE FUCK NEXT???????????

Edited March 14, 2009 by jt150

[boatbaby]

I agree 100%!!!!!

[whereswaldo]

The orignal post is copied from the American Policy center website. The American Policy Center is one of the nation’s leading grassroots activist organizations. Before forming and posting your replies/opinions please read the bill as written for yourself, not someone else's view of it.

 

 

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875

Thank You. I dont mind reading the bill but dont sprinkle your rhetoric among quotes from the bill. Save that for the end after posting the bill in its entirety. Thanks....

[Indy]

Have you ever wondered why some things sound REALLY REALLY sensational and, in this case, Orwellian? Probably because they are trying to stir emotions, bend people's thoughts to their own will and purposes. D'ya think?

 

I could be wrong, but I just completed reading the bill and I didn't see the massive incursion into the rights of backyard gardeners and roadside berry-pickers that the story claims. I'm not saying that I agree or disagree with this bill, but I just didn't see any of the stuff that this talks about. Just in reading the bill, it looks like it really stems from the recent peanut fiasco in Georgia and an intent to keep it from happening again.

 

Everything seems to come back to a "food establishment", which in section 3, article 13, it defines this as:

 

(13) FOOD ESTABLISHMENT-

 

(A) IN GENERAL- The term ‘food establishment’ means a slaughterhouse (except those regulated under the Federal Meat Inspection Act or the Poultry Products Inspection Act), factory, warehouse, or facility owned or operated by a person located in any State that processes food or a facility that holds, stores, or transports food or food ingredients.

 

( B ) EXCLUSIONS- For the purposes of registration, the term ‘food establishment’ does not include a food production facility as defined in paragraph (14), restaurant, other retail food establishment, nonprofit food establishment in which food is prepared for or served directly to the consumer, or fishing vessel (other than a fishing vessel engaged in processing, as that term is defined in section 123.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations).

 

(14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term ‘food production facility’ means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.

 

Section A *could* be construed as pertaining to backyard gardeners, but when you look at Section B, it excludes farms, ranches, orchards, vineyards, etc.. etc.. Which would be the, ahem, 'garden variety' backyard grower...

 

Also, just by looking at the fines involved with a violation, $1,000,000/ day seems a bit much for a backyard gardener...... I just don't see this pertaining to someone growing tomatoes on their apartment balcony in downtown Chicago......

 

Someone help me here, if I'm missing something but I just don't see how this is going to turn the U.S. into Orwell's "1984".

 

Possibly, the main opponents of this bill may just be the aforementioned peanut processing facilities in Georgia and the like who do not want the inconvenience of having to run a neat and tidy ship...... Maybe? Just maybe???? Nooooooo! Big business never has any lobbyists in Washington........

Edited March 14, 2009 by Indy

[Builderdad]

I did not get this post from the American Policy center website. And I looked over the bill in your link, I don't see anything that it telling me any different than what I originally posted. I put this out there to inform people, there are many people who grow there own vegetables and I have friends that own small farms that this would affect. Nothing wrong with informing people.

I don't like how the Government is taking over so many aspects of our life.

 

If you did not get this from the American Policy site then they must have stole it from you.

 

http://www.americanpolicy.org/sledgehammer...l-liberties.htm

 

This sure seems word for word to me.

[boatbaby]

If you did not get this from the American Policy site then they must have stole it from you.

 

http://www.americanpolicy.org/sledgehammer...l-liberties.htm

 

This sure seems word for word to me.

 

Okay, maybe the site I got it from copied it from the American Policy site. This is the first time I have seen the American Policy site. I will keep it in mind from now on though, thank you