Resistance to the National Animal Identification Scheme (NAIS) has been strong. This six-year-old USDA policy initiative to reduce the catastrophic effects to the livestock and meat industry from a major animal disease outbreak has received so much negative reaction from so many and now seems stalled. Now another policy initiative (U.S. House bill HR2749) breezed through the House and passed on the final day before the August recess, less than two months after introduction, and now goes to the Senate. HR2749 passed with little debate, reasonably strong bi-partisan support by today’s standards and very strong support from major food-growing Congressional districts. It is worth exploring the apparent anomaly between reaction to NAIS and HR2749, and examining the technological implications of the HR2749 legislation. 

Strong support for HR2749

Even though there are more than 1,000 bills pending in the current U.S. Congress with the words “food safety”, HR2749, sponsored by representatives John Dingell (D-MI), Henry Waxman (D-CA) and three Democratic colleagues seems to have led a charmed life. It was assigned to only one House committee for review, was passed out of committee with a unanimous voice vote, and moved to the House floor to be passed with little debate and no floor-introduced amendments in a lopsided 283-142 vote with eight members not expressing an opinion.

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