Expressing support for American animal agriculture and recognizing its integral role in…

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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H. Res. 1598 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1598 Expressing support for American animal agriculture and recognizing its integral role in strengthening food security, lowering food costs, and reinforcing economic growth in the United States. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 1, 2026 Mr. Evans of Colorado (for himself, Mr. Crank, Mr. Hurd of Colorado, Mr. Newhouse, Mr. Mann, Ms. Tenney, Mr. Smith of Nebraska, Mrs. Cammack, Mr. Webster of Florida, and Mr. Fine) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture _______________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION Expressing support for American animal agriculture and recognizing its integral role in strengthening food security, lowering food costs, and reinforcing economic growth in the United States. Whereas livestock production, also referred to as ``animal husbandry'', involves the raising, breeding, and rearing of various domesticated farm animals, including cattle, sheep, lamb, pigs, and poultry, to meet demands of a growing population by providing food, clothing, and other essential products; Whereas the United States has approximately 1,000,000 livestock producers, making up more than half of agricultural producers nationwide; Whereas 97 percent of United States farms are operated by families and collectively account for 86 percent of the total value of production; Whereas a strong domestic livestock industry reduces reliance on foreign food production, thus strengthening America's national security and reducing food costs for hardworking families; Whereas radical climate policies in Democrat-controlled States often enforce overburdensome environmental regulations on livestock producers and fail to deliver significant reductions of global emissions; Whereas ideologies based on misinformation spearheaded by radical activists lead to excessive State regulations and increased costs for livestock producers and American consumers; Whereas radical activists have been overwhelmingly unsuccessful in achieving any production practice reforms that have been scientifically proven to benefit the well-being of livestock despite spending millions of dollars on multiple animal welfare campaigns; Whereas elected government officials have publicly supported proposals and measures, including Denver Initiated Ordinance 309, to shut down livestock processing facilities in areas colocated with farms and ranches, and jeopardize livestock producers' livelihoods; Whereas Denver Initiated Ordinance 309 was a ballot initiative supported by leftist activists to prohibit the construction or operation of livestock processing facilities and was overwhelmingly rejected by voters; Whereas animal agriculture production serves a large economic benefit to several rural communities across the United States; Whereas animal agriculture is critical to addressing hunger, malnutrition, and improving the health and quality of life for millions of Americans; Whereas animal-sourced products such as meats, poultry, and eggs are nutrient- dense and supplement the average American's diet with high-quality protein, amino acids, iron, zinc, B vitamins, choline, phosphorous, and other micronutrients that are difficult to replace through consumption of only plant-based foods; Whereas the United States is recognized as the largest consumer of beef in the world and primarily consumes high-value, grain-fed beef; Whereas dairy products also contain essential nutrients, including protein, calcium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin B12, which plant-based replacements often do not offer without significant processing and additives; Whereas properly managed grazing can contribute to healthy ecosystems, reduce wildfire fuel loads, and improve soil health, demonstrating the important role livestock producers play in promoting responsible environmental stewardship; Whereas livestock producers continue to face challenges including drought, extreme weather conditions, rising input costs, labor shortages, and animal disease risks; Whereas American farmers and ranchers disproportionately face significant mental health challenges, and the suicide rate for male farmers and ranchers is more than 60 percent higher than male workers overall; and Whereas animal agriculture has been an integral part of American history, local culture, and the upbringing of many producers and their families: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) expresses sincere gratitude to the hardworking Americans that contribute to the breeding, production, harvesting, processing, packaging, sales and distribution, and transportation of animal agriculture commodities; (2) supports expanding access to animal products that provide critical nutrition value to the Nation's most vulnerable populations, including mothers, infants, and seniors; (3) denounces government mandates that limit consumer choice and increase food costs in favor of imposing woke ideologies, including veganism; (4) calls on all levels of government in the United States to suspend unreasonable regulatory mandates on livestock production that negatively impact countless American workers who help agriculture prosper in the United States; and (5) commits to advancing legislation to prioritize the well-being and economic welfare of American farmers and ranchers. <all>