On the recordSeptember 26, 2023
As a cattleman myself who interacts with and supports thousands of cattlemen in Kentucky, I rise in support of Ms. Hageman's very important amendment, which prevents funds from being used to mandate electronic identification ear tags for cattle and bison. The cattlemen in Kentucky know this isn't just another extra expense for them. It is the beginning of the end of the American rancher, of the American cattleman. It is the beginning of the end of multigenerational farms in Kentucky because this is an on-and-off switch that will prevent farmers from marketing their cattle if they are not in compliance with thousands of rules, a never-ending list of rules. This is why we should oppose it. We should quit listening. I implore my colleagues who have been lobbied on this issue--we have all been lobbied on this one. I implore my colleagues to quit listening to the lobbyists who pretend to represent farmers and start listening to their farmers back home and support Ms. Hageman's amendment.
