Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018
Floor Speech
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Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Chairman, I want you to imagine this scenario: a heavily armed Federal SWAT team dressed in black from head to toe with body armor on, guns blazing, military-style assault weapons, extra magazines loaded, come in intent on crushing all opposition.
Now, what crime could they possibly be going after? Is it a human trafficking ring? Is it a drug bust? No. They are after an Amish farmer for selling milk straight from the cow.
I would like to tell you this is an imaginary scenario, but it has happened and it keeps happening. Unfortunately, this isn't a joke.
So what is interesting about this is that Congress has never passed a ban on raw milk, yet the FDA has imposed a ban on raw milk.
So what I seek to do today, and my colleagues, with this amendment is to allow States which have legalized raw milk, to allow the interstate transport of that raw milk between two States that have made it legal to sell unpasteurized milk.
It is a very commonsense amendment. There are millions of people who drink raw milk in this country. They drink it safely. They believe it is much healthier for them than pasteurized milk. The Greatest Generation in our country grew up drinking raw milk that was unpasteurized. Twenty-eight States allow the sale of unpasteurized raw milk.
So it is ridiculous for us, I believe, the Federal Government, to go in and keep people from buying raw milk or transporting raw milk across State lines so long as it is legal in those two States.
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Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Chairman, I would just like to point out that this amendment is a bipartisan amendment. This has been a very partisan debate over a lot of these amendments over the farm bill, and I think it is time that we have something that is supported by both sides of the aisle.
This amendment is modeled after a stand-alone bill that has over a dozen cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, and the sponsors of this amendment are Congressman Polis and Congressman Rohrabacher in addition to me.
It is very simple. If you understand federalism, you can understand this bill. It says that, if two States have legalized the sale of unpasteurized milk, no Federal department, agency, or court may take any action to prohibit or restrict the interstate traffic of milk or milk products between those two States. There are 28 States that have legalized the sale of raw milk.
With a debt of over $21 trillion, the Federal Government doesn't have the time, the money, or the resources to chase down and prosecute peaceful farmers. This is an issue of both personal freedom and smart government.
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Mr. MASSIE. Madam Chair, how much time do I have remaining?
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Mr. MASSIE. Madam Chair, I know Big Milk opposes raw milk. The milk lobby doesn't like my amendment. In fact, the lactose lobby is very intolerant of freedom.
But I am here today to take up for consumers and small farmers and States' rights, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this. Reject pasteurization without representation. Vote to allow the interstate transport of raw milk between two States where it is legal.
Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
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