Will Congress Intervene To Counter Prop 12? Grassley Says Yes!
Should Congress take on Proposition 12 and pass legislation that prevents one state from telling any other state how to run its business? Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sure thinks so.
During a recent AgriTalk conversation, host Chip Flory asked this question of the Iowa congressman, following the Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold California’s Proposition 12 law.
With Grassley’s home state of Iowa serving as the top pork producing state in the U.S., he’s aware of the challenges many of his producer-constituents face.
Congress Plans to Intervene
There’s a bill being reintroduced, led by Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Grassley says, which aims to help combat Prop 12 nationwide.
Known as the “Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression Act” when first introduced in 2021, this bipartisan bill restricts state and local governments from imposing certain standards or conditions on the production or manufacture of agricultural products sold or offered for sale in interstate commerce. Specifically, it prohibits the imposition of such standards or conditions if the production or manufacture occurs in another state, and the standard or condition adds to requirements applicable under federal law and the laws of the state or locality where the product is produced or manufactured, according to Congress.gov.
As Judge Neil Gorsuch noted in his majority opinion, the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, and therefore, it has the authority to override such laws, Grassley explains.
As the bill is reintroduced this week, Grassley says, “Now, will we get it done? I don't know, because we're up against animal rights organizations that like what California is doing.”
Farm Bill Opportunity?
While the bill will stand alone, for now, Grassley doesn’t discount the idea of including the regulation in the upcoming Farm Bill.
“If it’s included in the Farm Bill, it will become law for sure,” Grassley notes, as he believes there would be enough votes in the Agricultural Committee to keep it in the Farm Bill.
Grassley also believes the Farm Bill should see some movement, as budgets were finalized last week.
“It's going to be easier to write up a farm bill when we know how much money we can spend,” Grassley adds.
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Unmet Needs: Will California Struggle to Meet Pork Demand with Prop 12?
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Pork Producers Face a Bleak Profitability Picture
