Farm Bill Update: Dangerous King Amendment is Dead

We’re thrilled to share the exciting news that the dangerous King Amendment, which would have nullified state-level protections for farmed animals and threatened environmental and food safety laws, is officially dead! Last night, Senate and House negotiators agreed to drop the controversial King Amendment from the Farm Bill.

Introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), the King Amendment attacked state provisions that put in place basic protections for farmed animals. It would have, for example, wiped out California’s Proposition 2, a ballot measure the passed in 2008 requiring birds, pigs, and calves raised on farms to be given enough space to lie down, stand up, fully extend their limbs and turn around.

The meat industry is also reeling after lawmakers decided to keep a provision in the Farm Bill that requires meat labeling to include where animals are born, raised and processed. Consumer rights groups have applauded the “country-of-origin labeling” (COOL) for providing Americans with critical information at the point of purchase.

A vote on the Farm Bill is expected later this week.