To support a law allowing the sale of raw milk

[Joey Wahoo]

Ask your congressman to support the bill Ron Paul introduced yesterday

H.R.4077
Title: To authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form for human consumption when the milk or milk product originates in a State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form and is destined for another State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form.
Sponsor: Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] (introduced 11/5/2007) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 11/5/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

[martygreene]

Do you have a source for this? HR 4077 is the Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2004

Perhaps you have your number wrong?

[Joey Wahoo]

Here's the link directly to thomas.gov. Note that the text of the bill is not online yet.

http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/bdquer...temp/~bdSf8H::

[Joey Wahoo]

They restart the numbering every year, so the bill you mention in HR 4077 from 2004.

[watcher]

Is there any anti lawyer wording in the bill? I can't see anyone taking a chance on selling raw milk without some legal protection.

[Jennifer L.]

This is just the worst thing that could happen to raw milk if this passed. What it would do is open up the market to the "big boys" and the one niche that small dairy farmers have for selling a superior product would be gone. Instead of buying local, people would be going to the supermarket and loading up on cheap raw milk from a megafarm three states away. And can you imagine the bacteria problems with trying to sell this stuff long distance? It would ruin raw milk for another 50 years as city people would buy it and then find out it had gone bad because of improper handling. NO THANKS!!! Keep it local and give small farmers a chance at it. If it can come out of the bulk tank and into the consumers milk can and they drive it right home, THEN you've got a quality product that is worth it. Keep the big farmers out.

Jennifer

Jennifer

[farmwife]

Jennifer,
You have a great point! I know big business would love to take over any niche their is. It is all about the money and not people's health.

[texican]

Who needs regulations? Government is Evil. Let's get back to the good ol' days of no inspections or regulations... Everyone knows that Corporations have our best interests in mind.

If you really want raw milk, that's safe, "pull" your own.

The conspiracy side of me is thinking this could be an industry backed law. I've done minimal research, but apparently Mr. Paul is a libertarian... which is great in some circumstances, dangerous in others, depending on your worldview.

[Joey Wahoo]

I live in Virginia, right on the NC border. But even if NC passes the law to legalized the sale of raw milk, it will be a federal crime for me to buy from the Amish family in NC that sells it, and carry it across state lines to my home. Ron Paul's bill will make it legal.

Go to www.planetrawmilk.com for more about Congressman Paul. He is the leading advocate in Congress today for the rights of alternative health care and homeschooling, for example. Unlike most of congress, the does not belong to the corporations.

[MELOC]

i can see jennifer's point, but let's not forget that for many folks, local is right next to the state line.

[Phantomfyre]

There will always be some big corporation that tries to profit wherever it can, however it can.

This is a step in the right direction, and that's a good thing, IMO.

[Spinner]

It's online now. http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.4077:

To authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form for human consumption when the milk or milk product originates in a State that allows... (Introduced in House)

HR 4077 IH

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4077

To authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form for human consumption when the milk or milk product originates in a State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form and is destined for another State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 5, 2007

Mr. PAUL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form for human consumption when the milk or milk product originates in a State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form and is destined for another State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. INTERSTATE TRAFFIC OF UNPASTEURIZED MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS.

(a) Sale Authorized- Notwithstanding section 1240.61 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, the delivery into interstate traffic, or sale, other distribution, or holding for sale or other distribution after shipment in interstate traffic, of any unpasteurized milk or unpasteurized milk product in final package form for direct human consumption, or intended to be put into final package form for direct human consumption, is not prohibited if the unpasteurized milk or unpasteurized milk product--

(1) is produced in a State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and or unpasteurized milk products in final package form;

(2) is delivered into interstate traffic in that State; and

(3) is intended for transport to and sale in another State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and or unpasteurized milk products in final package form.

(b) Definitions- In this section:

(1) The term `pasteurized' refers to the process of heating milk and milk products to the applicable temperature specified in the tables contained in section 1240.61 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, and held continuously at or above that temperature for at least the corresponding specified time in such tables.

(2) The terms `milk', `milk products', and `interstate traffic' have the meanings given those terms in section 1240.3 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations.

[Joey Wahoo]

Thanks. Also online now is the introductory speech:

SPEECH OF
HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2007

Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation that allows the transportation and sale in interstate commerce of unpasteurized milk and milk products, as long as the milk both originates from and is shipped to States that allow the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products. This legislation removes an unconstitutional restraint on farmers who wish to sell unpasteurized milk and milk products, and people who wish to consume unpasteurized milk and milk products.

My office has heard from numerous people who would like to purchase unpasteurized milk. Many of these people have done their own research and come to the conclusion that unpasteurized milk is healthier than pasteurized milk. These Americans have the right to consume these products without having the Federal Government second-guess their judgment about what products best promote health. If there are legitimate concerns about the safety of unpasteurized milk, those concerns should be addressed at the State and local level.

I urge my colleagues to join me in promoting consumers' rights, the original intent of the Constitution, and federalism by cosponsoring my legislation to allow the interstate sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products.

[DocM]

Honestly, I wouldn't drink raw milk that didn't come from my own animals. Opening the market to large scale raw milk sales will be... a death sentence to a lot of innocent people who don't have a clue about the pathogens that can be present in milk. Say "raw milk" and ignorant folk jump all over themselves to drink it, regardless of any other condition the animals were raised or milked in. Too many people confuse the terms "raw" and "organic".

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

I live in Virginia, right on the NC border. But even if NC passes the law to legalized the sale of raw milk, it will be a federal crime for me to buy from the Amish family in NC that sells it, and carry it across state lines to my home. Ron Paul's bill will make it legal..........................
.................................

The law includes in this instance that both your home state of virginia and NC would have to both have the same raw milk liscense for it to be legal.

"To authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form for human consumption when the milk or milk product originates in a State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form and is destined for another State that allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form."

And I totally agree buy form the local farmer and be very careful of Texas Ron Paul, he didn't just fall of the face of the earth for this election, he has a very nice past you can read about with his previous votes. There is nothing in this bill that will help a dairy person on this forum, nothing. IT is about big business, and the big dairies wanting milk sales into stores. The only bill that will help is for all of us to be able to sell 100 gallons of raw milk a week off our farms without liscense like Lousinana and other states have. Anything other than that is not a bill written for the dairyman.

So is Mr. Paul just stupid or are they pulling a fast one with his bill, or is there another agenda. Either way don't put another Texan, stupid or gulible into the White House. Vicki

[Spinner]

Vicky, He isn't stupid or gullible for wanting to allow people to make their own choices instead of having the gov make the choice and punish people for not obeying. Obviously it's not a case of raw milk being safe or unsafe, the states that allow raw milk sales prove that it's safe. Intellect can't be regulated, which is what the current laws appear to being attempting to do.

[daytrader]

Originally Posted by farmwife

Jennifer,
You have a great point! I know big business would love to take over any niche their is. It is all about the money and not people's health.

You are right. Big buiness bad. That is funny. Behind every big buiness you have some person that started out small and COMPETE. Do the same and have your own big Business.

THE SAD THING IS NO ONE WANTS TO COMPETE. Many seem to want it equal. Equal means no profits. The one that dose the thing that no one else is doing. They make money. If they run their deal right they will keep doing it. ONCE they let their guard down and start lowering quality. Many times they are done.

Look at TOPS meat.

Big business is not your competition. Unless you want them to be. Can you compete with them? Many times yes. Just not on price, yet MOST in this country do not care about price on simple things. They worry about large prices.

Heck the 1.09 Grade A eggs or the 2.49 Egglands best because they have a fancy stamp on them? MOST CAN CARE LESS if they are the exact same eggs in some markets.

In our area the EXACT same feed is given and they are raised in the exact same feeder houses. The exact same truck delivers 7 differant types of eggs. To our store.

They do use many our side vendors yet have feed standards. Even their Organic eggs are purchased from commercial feeders THAT DO FEED ORGANIC.

Their free range eggs are free ranged. I know I sold my eggs to them at one time.

Heck I made more selling to big Business then I did out selling on my own. Folks wanted trusted products. They didn't care were they came from. Just trusted vendors. Nothing wrong with that.

Heck. Mile is one area were I have a problem. I have been to these places. I have seen the trucks stuck in a shop for 4 days with a load on. What do you think they do with it???????????

How long dose it sit in the tank on the farm? Large farm may get their pick up every day, yet what about a small farm 3-5 times a week? Depends on the state you are in.

Raw milk. I support selling it. Just like I support a guy ordering a raw steak at a dinner if he wants to eat it with two half cooked eggs. HE TAKES THE RISK. Not me or the vendor.

What we need is law suit protection not laws on commerce.

[haypoint]

Daytrader, what a breath of fresh air to hear someone that can see that big business isn't automaticly evil and that the small operation can, at times, produce bad products.
Of all the areas to roll back inspections, milk has got to be the worst. Well intentioned small farmers could be selling milk with dangerous pathagens and not even know it. If you've got orders for 5 gallons of milk and your only cow swats a chunk of dried poop into the bucket, you may grab it out and keep milking. I think you are right, if you want to change the regulation on milk, just let the buyer know that he has no recourse if the milk makes him sick. The government regulates this stuff to insure the food is wholesome. That's what your elected officials expect USDA to do. If you want less or no regulations, then you have to be willing to let the USDA off the hook when it makes people sick.

[billooo2]

One of the groups that are demanding raw milk is the Weston A Price Foundation. Here is a link to their home page:

/www.westonaprice.org/

Here is a link to a site that they have about the advantages of raw milk:

www.realmilk.com/

These people are looking for dairy farms that have Jerseys, Guernseys, etc. They also want to buy from farms that are doing "grass based" farming. They also prefer to purchase directly from the farmer.

I don't think that the big companies can do much to effectively to compete with a consumer who is demanding this specific of a product. One of the reasons is that most "factory farms" would find it very inefficient for them move cows over the amount of pasture that would be required. It is much more efficient for the factory farms to keep the cows in a feedlot and bring their food to them.

And rotational grazing is pretty much impossible for a farm of any large size.

If a consumer wants raw milk, and there is no farmer near them that is supplying raw milk that they want, then they will use the raw milk shipped from another state. Here is a link to a farm that has done that:

/www.organicpastures.com/

[RedHogs]

The current laws say all drinking milk sold must come from a grade A certified dairy.....

This change only excludes....section 1240.61 of title 21

You still wouldn't be able to sell raw milk from the homestead and cross statelines with this law or simple one line deletion.....

Ron Paul is an idiot or super politician....He has got some on here loving him while he gives away a niche to commercial dairies.