Alert - Iowa Raw Milk Bill Hearing Mar. 2 & More

This week is a huge opportunity for food choice in the state of Iowa. Emails are getting noticed. The dairy industry is ramping up efforts to stop this.

Whether you can attend or not, your Senator and Representative need to hear from you this week, both by email and in person if possible.

Click here to find your Representative

Click here to find your Senator

The subcommittee of the House Economic Growth/Rebuild Iowa Committee is holding a hearing Wednesday morning on the raw milk bill, HF 394 (Senate companion bill SF 278); and turnaround time is short so the bill could move to the full committee this week.

Hearing Wednesday, March 2

8:00 am - Room 305

Capitol Building, Des Moines

The bills seek to allow consumers to buy fresh milk and milk products directly from dairy farms. Contacting both the House Economic Growth and the Senate Agriculture committees now will lay the groundwork for success over the next few days. [See contact information below]

Please forward this Alert to other IA residents

TAKE ACTION

1. Email members of the House & Senate Committees (see listed below).

2. Attend the Hearing on Wednesday at 8 am in Des Moines. It would be helpful to have representation from across the state. However, friends inside the Capitol indicate that a circus environment would hurt the cause with some members (no signs, placards, etc). Attire is generally business casual or business. So, be respectful of the surroundings, the participants, and the occasion. Iowans haven't had this opportunity in approximately 30 years. The legislators need to know there is an informed, reasonable but passionate group of constituents.

3. Prepare written statements for the committee(s) and for your legislators. There will be limited time to speak. All those who wish to speak, will need to sign up and then as time allows will be recognized by the Committee Chair for their opportunity.

Dr. Ted Beals, Retired Pathologist who sits on the Board of the Farm-to-Consumer Foundation and participates in the Michigan Fresh Unprocessed Whole Milk Working Group plans to speak.

4. "Call out" your Representatives and Senators while at the Capitol to let them know you came to support HF 394 and SF 278. You can go to the entrance of the Senate or House Chambers and give a note to a Page that will take your request to your legislator.

Key House Committee (& subcommittee) members:

Pat Grassley (R, District 17), Committee Chair

pat.grassley@legis.state.ia.us

Subcommittee:

Mary Ann Hanusa (R, District 99), Committee Vice Chair

MaryAnn.Hanusa@legis.state.ia.us

Lisa Heddens (D, District 46)

lisa.heddens@legis.state.ia.us

Jason Schultz (R, District 55) Subcommittee Chair

House bill sponsor - only to thank and encourage him

jason.schultz@legis.state.ia.us

House Economic Growth/Rebuild Iowa Committee