US Senate rejects Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments

The U.S. Senate has rejected the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 to the Farm Bill, modeled after H.R. 3798 and S. 3239, which would have required egg producers to double the living space allotted per laying hen and make other animal welfare improvements during a tiered phase-in period that would allow farmers time to make the investments in better housing, with the assurance that all would face the same requirements by the end of the phase-in period.

The U.S. Senate has rejected the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 to the Farm Bill, modeled after H.R. 3798 and S. 3239, which would have required egg producers to double the living space allotted per laying hen and make other animal welfare improvements during a tiered phase-in period that would allow farmers time to make the investments in better housing, with the assurance that all would face the same requirements by the end of the phase-in period.

The amendments had bipartisan support, and were backed by both the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States. Supporters of the bill called it an opportunity to enact a national standard that would improve the lives of animals and protect family farmers and agricultural jobs. Detractors called the amendment controversial and "a direct assault upon egg laying hens', voters' and states' rights."

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