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Friend,
Last week, I introduced the Save Our Bacon Act with 18 of my colleagues to put a stop to California’s radical Prop 12. This has been a long time coming, and I’m proud to have Governor Reynolds, Attorney General Bird, Secretary Naig, the entire Iowa House delegation, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Pork, National Pork Producers Council, as well family farmers across Iowa standing with me on this.
Since day one in Congress, I’ve fought to keep food affordable and protect local producers. And under the Trump Administration, rural America will continue to be at the forefront of policy conversations that impact producers’ ability to feed and fuel the world after four years of Biden acting like food grows at the grocery store.
So here’s the bottom line: California shouldn’t be telling Iowa farmers how to raise their hogs. Prop 12 sets unscientific, arbitrary mandates on producers hundreds of miles away, and it’s hurting both farmers and families. According to USDA, the cost for producers to comply is up to $4,500 per sow—that’s devastating for small, family-run farms that don’t have that kind of money lying around.
And it’s not just farmers feeling the pain. Consumers are paying more, too. Since Prop 12 went into effect, the price of a pork loin has gone up 41%. That’s outrageous. Just a few weeks ago, on July 9th, the Trump Administration’s DOJ filed a lawsuit against the State of California over state laws that have caused grocery prices to skyrocket, including Prop 12.
In a recent House Appropriations Committee hearing, which I proudly serve on, Secretary Rollins even said mandates like Prop 12 are unsustainable. She’s absolutely right.
My bill is simple: it respects states’ rights to regulate within their own borders, but it stops California activists from dictating how we farm in Iowa.
I’ll keep working with Chairman Thompson, Secretary Rollins, President Trump, and my colleagues to block this overreach and protect our producers, consumers, and our entire food supply chain.
Sincerely,
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