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Millions of farm animals are living better lives thanks to Proposition 12. This landmark California law requires that pork, eggs, and veal sold in the state come from animals that are not confined in small cages or crates. In response, producers across the country have adapted to cage-free and crate-free systems to meet market demand. States like Arizona, Michigan, and Colorado have followed with similar reforms, showing that stronger animal welfare standards can open new markets and drive innovation.
That progress is now under threat. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, recently rebranded as the Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S.1326) and the Save Our Bacon Act, would overturn Proposition 12 and similar state laws by prohibiting states from setting or enforcing their own standards for how food is produced. This could disrupt market-driven shifts toward humane systems and undermine farms that have already invested in crate-free practices.
I believe Congress must reject attempts to undo this progress. I urge my federal lawmakers — Rep. Chellie Pingree, Sen. Susan Collins, and Sen. Angus King — to stand with voters, farmers, and animals by defending Proposition 12 and keeping the EATS Act and anything like it out of the Farm Bill.
Kim Schwickrath
Old Orchard Beach
