THIS IS BIG! The Farm Bill comes along only once every five years, and perhaps more than any other piece of legislation, it gives our nation the chance to improve farm animal welfare and transition to a more humane food system. 

Unlike most bills, the Farm Bill must pass. The key question is: what will make it into the final version that becomes law? Will it help animals, or harm them? That’s where you come in.

The ASPCA released our own Farm Bill agenda [PDF], outlining priorities to improve the welfare of the almost 10 billion animals raised for food each year in the U.S. We are calling on Congress to move away from cruel, destructive factory farming and instead use the Farm Bill as a tool to accelerate the transition to a more humane and fair system by making the following critical reforms:

• Increasing corporate accountability and addressing food system consolidation
• Ending government investment in the factory farm model
• Investing in farmers building a more humane system
• Ensuring strong government oversight of industrial animal agriculture 

Our agenda identifies key policies and existing legislation that would move us closer toward a world without factory farming, including the Farm System Reform Act and Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act. 

Today, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with his colleagues Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), reintroduced both of those landmark bills as part of a large package of legislation his office plans to push for inclusion in the 2023 Farm Bill to reform our food system. Included in both bills are much-needed changes like: 

• An immediate halt on building new factory farms. 
• Funding to support farmers transitioning to higher-welfare systems. 
• More accountability and regulation of the damages caused by industrial agriculture’s ruthless focus on profits and failure to appropriately plan for disasters.
• Increased protections for animals when they’re at their most vulnerable during transport and at slaughter.

What’s Next?

The Farm Bill takes months to assemble, but there will be a number of opportunities for you to get involved in this game-changing legislation. 

Right now, it’s critical that members of Congress hear from voters who demand better for farmed animals. Big Ag’s influence is powerful, and your voice is needed to ensure the Farm Bill supports a more humane food system and brighter future for all of us. Take action today by sending a message to your lawmakers. The welfare of people, animals and our planet depends on it.