i sent this to the above list:
The proposed National Animal Id Act (NAIS) through the USDA will absolutely bring the downfall of local rodeos, equestrian events and even small farms and ranches. The proposed Animal ID act will require ALL livestock animal movements to be tracked. Can you imagine the logistical nightmare of trying to scan a microchip in every single steer, calf, bull and horse participating at a rodeo? Then reporting every single animal to the USDA with in 48 hours of the event? Plus the owners of the animals will have to pay a fee to turn in such a report. For example if a livestock contractor owns 30 head of cattle at the rodeo, he will have to file 30 individual reports twice. One report would be for the animals leaving his ranch and arriving at the event and an additional report for the animal leaving the event and returning to his ranch. That would be 60 total reports and a filing fee for each individual report. If that fee was just a dollar that livestock contractor would be out an additional $60.00 from his operating cost, however that fee is proposed to be even higher than $1.00.
The impact of the NAIS on the local rural farmers would be even greater. I personally own several horses that I ride at home, across the street and in competitions (in and out of Texas). NAIS will effectively cost me the freedom to take my horses where I please. It would curtail my traveling across the state, or out of the state, to enter competitive events. This issue not only affects me, but my friends, my neighbors, my family and every other livestock owner in the entire state. I would be required to report every single time my horse leaves my property and every animal it comes in contact with off my property then again when the horse comes back on my farm. Who made that YOUR BUSINESS?
? Can you imagine the impact this would have on the State Fair livestock shows? Every single animal at the State Fair would have to be tracked. Every single 4-H and FFA member would have to file a report every time they took an animal to a show. Every single Racehorse owner would have to report their horses on a DAILY basis while the horses are stabled at one of the States racetracks with all the other horses. Every single feed-store owner that sells chicks or rabbits would have to report every chick they bought or sold. Shall I continue? I think I need not. The point has been made.
I am asking that the State forgo the regulations, stand up for us, the citizens of Texas, and tell the US government to find another way; a different way. I would like your support to repeal the bills and regulations that started this whole mess of insanity and infringement on my liberty. To quote the great Benjamin Franklin, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
I have and will continue to voice my concerns on this issue to all that are responsible for this blatant infringement on my rights as a US Citizen.
Thank you,
