Oppose the Save Our Bacon Act

The “Save Our Bacon Act” is a controversial provision included in the House-passed Farm Bill (H.R. 7567) that would roll back animal welfare protections by preventing states from enforcing many of their own livestock production standards. If enacted, it would prevent states from adopting or enforcing laws that protect farm animals from being raised in cruel conditions like extreme confinement.

This harmful provision would:

• Nullify voter-approved laws such as California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’ Question 3, which require that certain animal products sold in those states come from livestock raised under minimum humane standards.
• Prevent other states from adopting similar protections in the future, even when approved by voters or state legislatures.
• Override states’ longstanding authority to determine what agricultural products may be sold within their borders.

Its impact could also extend far beyond pork production. According to an analysis by Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Clinic, the provision could undermine more than 600 state agricultural laws, including regulations governing food safety, seafood labeling, and the spread of pests and diseases.

As Congress finalizes the Farm Bill—the massive, multiyear legislative package that governs agricultural and food programs—lawmakers should reject the “Save Our Bacon Act” provision and preserve the authority of states to enact and enforce their own animal welfare protections.