Congress lays a good egg

By Steve Boomsma

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How often do you hear people say “that's a great idea!” about things happening in Congress? Probably not that often. But one of the most recent bills introduced in Congress is something to support if you eat at least one of the 76 billion eggs that America's hens produce each year.

The proposed law (H.R. 3798 and S.B. 3239) is an amendment to the four-decades-old Egg Products Inspection Act. The bill would require the gradual replacement of conventional cages for egg-laying hens with new housing that provides nearly twice the space per hen, as well as other enrichments such as perches, nesting boxes and scratching areas.

The bill would eliminate the duplicative and conflicting state laws that are confusing to consumers, grocers, restaurateurs and farmers.

This sensible approach is supported by egg farmers like me: more than 40 state egg and farm organizations including our family farm here in Iowa Falls; 10 animal protection groups such the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; scientific groups such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of Avian Pathologists; and consumer groups such as the National Consumers League and Consumer Federation of America.

The bill also has bipartisan support in Congress, with more than 65 Republican and Democratic co-sponsors - a notable achievement in today's political climate. Notably, the bill is supported by citizens, too, by a 4-to-1 margin, according to independent research.

This bill will preserve jobs here in our state and provide the egg farmers with stability in the future. Farmers and egg companies would have confidence in our future, and could fuel $4 billion of investments in new or improved farm infrastructure over 18 years.

This investment will bring new manufacturing, construction, transportation, and installation jobs to hundreds of rural communities like ours.

Congress has only to look at Europe to see what could happen in the United States without passage of this egg bill. The European Commission's single-compliance deadline for egg farmers there has caused reports of egg shortages and higher prices for European consumers. The gradual phase-in period and specific housing guidelines outlined in our legislation will assure the U.S. marketplace of a stable egg industry and supply.

This legislation is an excellent idea for consumers, farmers, grocers, restaurateurs and hens. Let's hope Congress sees it that way, too, when they vote on it.

Steve Boomsma is COO of Centrum Valley Farms LLP in Alden. Comments: uepcertified@gmail.com