The House leadership has announced their intention to take up the fiscal year 2013 agriculture appropriations as reported from the House appropriations committee to the House floor next week under an open rule.
The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and the national coalition of 150 agriculture, industry, government and sportsmen organizations and agencies are contacting U.S. Representatives in preparation for the introduction of any amendments to eliminate or cut funds of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services Agency (WS). Last year when this legislation came to the full House for consideration, the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights activists sponsored such an amendment that ran into dramatic opposition losing 284 - 132.
"The amendment language will not be known until next week, however, the sheep industry asks sheep producers to contact their Representatives requesting that they oppose any amendments to cut WS or livestock protection," said Peter Orwick, ASI executive director.