LITTLE ROCK — Leaders of the U.S. Senate chickened out this week. Yielding to paranoia from beef and pork producers, they nixed a bipartisan amendment that would lead to more humane treatment for the hens that produce most of the eggs consumed by Americans.
Hopes for the measure now reside with the House, which is considering a similar amendment to the new farm bill. Passage there could encourage the Senate to reassess an opportunity to improve the nation’s food supply.
In a welcome show of detente after years of conflict, the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society forged an agreement that would phase in larger cages and better treatment for egg-laying hens, as well as require labeling to inform consumers about the conditions in which a hen was raised. The changes would be expected to add 10 cents to the price of a carton of eggs by 2025.
But the groundbreaking and sensible measure failed to make the cut when sponsors of a new farm bill whittled the number of amendments down to 73.
Senators were unwilling to do the right thing in the face of opposition from other livestock groups, which irrationally contend that humane conditions for one species might force reform on their industries.
The House must keep the amendment alive. This opportunity for positive change may not come up again anytime soon.
Editorial, Pages 14 on 06/22/2012