Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agendcies Appropriations Act, 2007

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENÐCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - May 23, 2006)

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Mr. HOSTETTLER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Paul amendment. The proposed national animal ID system will force small family farmers and ranchers to spend thousands of dollars as well as comply with new paperwork and monitoring regulations to implement and operate the national ID system. This unnecessary financial burden could ruin small farms.

As we all know, many of America's small farms are struggling to survive in today's environment. They are teetering on a line that fluctuates with the seasons, with disease and with ever-changing markets. The national animal ID system will only push these farmers further into financial troubles. By forcing small farms to adhere to unfair bureaucratic regulation, you will be driving third and fourth generation farmers out of the only livelihood they have ever known.

In town hall meetings across my district, constituents have expressed to me their concerns with the proposed program. They are afraid of losing their farms because of big brother looking over their shoulder and forcing them to adhere to unrealistic and intrusive regulations.

I urge my colleagues to support the Paul amendment and stand up for the thousands of hardworking small farmers in our country.

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