Political Quotes

“I rise today to introduce the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2013 with Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Senator Collins as original cosponsors. This legislation establishes a single, national standard for the humane treatment of egg-laying hens. The bill text represents a historic compromise between the United Egg Producers, who represent about 90 percent of the eggs produced in the United States, and the Humane Society, the Nation's largest animal- welfare organization. The bill is supported by 14 agriculture and egg producer groups, the four major veterinary groups involved in avian medicine, five consumer organizations, and hundreds more groups nationwide. Nearly 10 years ago, voters started taking an interest in insuring that their eggs were being produced humanely. This resulted in State level legislation and a number of initiatives, including Proposition 2 in California, to reform the agriculture industry. Many of these efforts were successful. State laws governing egg production were enacted in 6 states, and a patchwork of differing state-based regulation has emerged. Compounding the problem is the lack of a standard for egg labeling. This makes it difficult for consumers to know exactly what they are purchasing and understand what the labels mean. This situation has two principal effects. First, the uncertainty stifles economic growth in this important industry.…”