Animal welfare and public health are two of my top priorities regarding agricultural policy. As your constituent, I respectfully request that you co-sponsor the Pigs and Public Health Act (PPHA, H.R. 8994) to protect farmed animals and public health.
Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) Plus is a certification program the pork industry uses to mislead people into thinking it prioritizes animal welfare and public health. It was put in place after consumer demands for animal welfare in pig production.
But a recent white paper by Mercy For Animals detailing undercover investigations over the past 10 years reveals serious and widespread animal cruelty at PQA Plus-certified facilities, exposing the industry’s self-regulation as ineffective and deceptive.
Unlike PQA Plus, the PPHA would set real, meaningful standards for pig welfare and make them legally enforceable, preventing some of the worst suffering for pigs before it starts.
Please support the PPHA and ensure its important provisions are included in the upcoming Farm Bill.