Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) legislation in the Iowa General Assembly!!!

The leadership of both parties has formed a 12 member committee to work on CAFO legislation this session.  The members of that committee are: Rep. Marcie Frevert (D), Rep. Bill Witt (D),  Rep. Mark Kuhn (D), Rep. Ralph Klemme (R), Rep. Russ Tieg (R),  Rep. Gene Manternach (R), Sen. Betty Soukup (D), Sen. Jack Kibbie (D), Sen. Gene Fraise (D), Sen. Jerry Behn (R), Sen. Jeff Angelo (R), and Sen. Mary Lundby (R).  Sen. Stewart Iverson (R) is facilitating the committee's discussion.   

So far, non-committee members or attendees have been told that all items regarding CAFO regulation are on the table for discussion.  Rep. Mark Kuhn has said that the committee is making progress on a wide range of issues and he remains very encouraged by the bipartisan process and the effort by members of the committee to bring about meaningful changes.

The House Agriculture Committee passed a shell bill out of committee yesterday (2/19).  This means the bill passed by the committee didn't actually say anything except that the General Assembly would address CAFOs this session.  The Senate Ag Committee is expected to pass a similar shell bill tomorrow (2/21).

What will be most important is to contact your legislator and legislators on the Senate and House Ag Committees once the work on bill substance begins in those committees.  Our legislators need to hear that Iowans want (DEMAND) real, comprehensive legislation on CAFOs, THIS SESSION!

Once it comes time to contact legislators about CAFO legislation, go to the Iowa General Assembly homepage at www.legis.state.ia.us/

On that page, under the "Legislators" heading you will find information about figuring out who your legislators are ("Finding Your Legislator"), how to contact them ("Senators" and "Represenatives," which lead to a list of legislators that you can click on to go to their websites, which list their contact information), and who is on which committee ("Standing Committees," both "Senators" and "Representatives").
That explanation was kind of confusing, so contact me if you have questions.

I will keep you updated on when action is needed on CAFO legislation.  Until then, keep your eyes and ears open to news about this issue in the media.

Thanks for your leadership on conservation issues in Iowa!


Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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