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UPDATED 11/27/2006

Texas livestock owners forced to anguish till 2007, 80th regular session of Texas Legislature for the repeal of HB 1361.

 

 

November 26,2006 Notice: The next Commissioners, meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 5th, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. This meeting will be held at TAHC central office at 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas. We assume the Commission will review rules under chapter 49.1(m) restricting the sale of untested (for EIA) equines to slaughter only. Texas is the only state that has this requirement. As far as we know TAHC does not post an agenda of Commission meetings. They certainly do not on their website like most governmental agencies; so who knows.

New !     TAHC publishes agenda for December 5th meeting !   New !

click here for agenda

The review of Equine EIA rules is item 13 (b)

October 30, 2006 Free Market Network News "Texas counties sign ANTI-NAIS resolutions " ----" the people who cooked this up didn't count on fierce resistance from Texas ranchers and small farmers. There's been a lot of hollerin' in Texas over this, and yesterday two Texas counties, Bandera County and Blanco County, signed anti-NAIS resolutions."

October 7, 2006 TAHC's attempted implementation of NAIS (premises registration and animal ID program) is not popular with either Democrat Hank Gilbert (Click name for website) or Republican Todd Staples (Click name for website), both candidates running for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Click here for News 8 Austin (TV) interview with candidates 

October 5, 2006  Texas livestock owners outraged over letter from TAHC. Many have called/faxed and emailed. They want to know just how TAHC got their names and address. Producers state they have never contacted TAHC. One livestock owners quips " the only way they got my name and address is if TAHC went thru confidential files containing my information at the local sales barn, if they did you can count on lawsuits being filed against sale barn operators". Others make the statement that the only time they can recall giving out information was filling out the USDA Farm Census back in May or June of this year. They feel TAHC had unauthorized access to confidential USDA farm census database. We suggest you call Dr Hellman or the NAIS Coordinator Kenny Edgar at 1-800-550-8242 and demand to know how they got your information. We also suggest that you contact your state representative and state senators office. If you do not know who represents you, follow this link to the STATE OF TEXAS HOUSE OF RPERESENTATIVES WEBSITE To locate your state senator follow this link to the STATE OF TEXAS SENATE WEBSITE

October 4, 2006  USDA dismayed with TAHC dismal premises registration performance and with virtually no support for TAHC "voluntary" premises registration program by Texas livestock owners, TAHC makes desperate attempt to con unsuspecting livestock owners to register their farms and ranches into program. Agency blankets state with letters from executive director Bob Hellman Click article for pdf

  Page one click here                     Page two click here                     Page three click here

October 3, 2006 Texas Landowners Council is opposed to TAHC premises identification and animal  identification - urges members  to to protect their property rights by contacting state representatives and state senators to make their opposition known. Click article for link

October 1, 2006 Texas Independent Horse Owners Association -  press release - American Horse Council "Equine Issues Forum" held last Monday in Austin, Texas --------shunned by horse owners

September 23,2006 Texas Independent Horse Owners Association-  press release concerning  American Horse Council's Monday September 25th "Equine Issues Forum" on NAIS at Austin

September 17,2006  The Appaloosa Horse Club issues NAIS position statement regarding USDA's "proposed" program. TAHC was attempting to adopt this "proposed" program without any Texas livestock owners input.

September 13, 2006 The American Horse Council announces that Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas State Veterinarian and Executive Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission will be the guest speaker at the AHC Equine Issues Forum, which will be held on September 25^th in Austin, Texas. Dr. Hillman will also sit on the “Ask the Experts” panel. " We are excited about Dr. Hillman’s participation in this informative meeting" states the AHC.  editors note : maybe someone should "ask the experts" Dr. Hellman why the commission supports the horse slaughter industry.

August 29, 2006  Since February 2005 nearly 91 million data records of U.S. residents have been exposed due to security breaches  Do you really think your farm's NAIS information is going to be safe ? Check out this website  A Chronology of Data Breaches  If they can't keep DOD records safe, if they cant keep your credit card and social security information safe what makes you think they will even bother to keep your proprietary livestock information under raps ? Look close you will see USDA more than once in this list ! SCARY---- SCARY ----SCARY---- Stuff

August 1 Gov. Perry Appoints Four to Texas Animal Health Commission Appointees must be confirmed by Texas Senate. Contact your Senator and urge them to grill appointees where they stand on NAIS, property rights and unencumbered access to veterinary health care for livestock.

July 24 "It's time that our surveillance efforts reflect what we now know is a very, very low level of BSE in the United States. There is no significant BSE problem in the United States, and after all of this surveillance, I am able to say there never was."
Mike Johanns, USDA Secretary, announcing a 90% cutback in BSE testing. (Source: Washington Post, July 21, 2006)

July 15 Mills County Texas -Anti Mandatory NAIS, Anti HB1361 resolution. click here to view document.

June 25 Premises registration deception continues. See this Sale Barn Flyer urging livestock owners "TIME IS RUNNING OUT". We urge everyone to print this flyer out and send copies to your Representatives and Senators. From the get go TAHC and it's agents have falsely represented NAIS, as well as giving the false impression there is broad support for this program. TAHC and it's agents have painted a picture that premises registration is a legal requirement after July 1, 2006, with a penalty of up to $1,000 per day for noncompliance. Likewise they continue to give the impression that if you don't sign up before July 1, 2006 it's going to cost you money. Out of the other side of their mouths they are trying to show there is support for NAIS by touting how many premises have been signed up "voluntarily".The question is if the truth be known how many of the handful of those that "voluntarily" registered their premises with TAHC would have done so.

June 12 Mills County joins other Texas cities and county's - Adopts resolution opposing NAIS- details coming soon !

June 7 Legislative Budget Board and Gov. Rick Perry's office calls for state agencies to prepare for upcoming budget cycle by assuming 10 % cut when making budget request. Readers urged to contact State Representatives and Senators. Request that TAHC be allowed to be SUNSET in 2007 read more

June 6 Update 6/15 see page 10 - Texas Republican Party Platform Committee states " We oppose a mandatory national animal identification system whichrequires the registration of all animals, the registration of animal owners, their properties, including GPS coordinates.  We oppose the use of RFID technology in personal and animal identification systems.  We call for the repeal of HB 1361"

June 5 Backlash by Horse Owners and Small Producers grow. USDA releases this document Saturday June 3 in an attempt to pacify these groups. Document is nothing but double speak and obfuscation. We have people analyzing this document now.

June 4 List of people that crafted NAIS, NIAA membership.

June 2 TAHC & USDA Fear Backlash by Horse Owners will derail NAISMay 31 Texas Farm Bureau's bizarre article " Take politics out of animal I.D ". Call for TFB members to reevaluate their membership

May 30 TAHC launches propaganda campaign. Read propaganda with comments.

May 29 US Representative Ron Paul (Texas) Stop the National Animal ID System

May 22 Tim Kleinschmidt challenger for State Representative District 17 which includes Bastrop, Brazos (part) Burleson, and Lee counties makes a stand about HB 1361, TAHC and NAIS.

May 5 New bill ( HB 168 ) filed by Representative Patrick Rose clickhere to read all about it !

May 2 Status of HB 47, Check and see if your State Representatives name is on the author or co-author list . If not you might want to call them and ask why not. Keep in mind several state Representatives have a better idea. Legislation that would prohibit premises registration totally, even so called " voluntary" premises registration. we like that idea even better!

April 25 Letter from State Representative Patrick Rose to TAHC- Jest; TAHC deceived legislators for need of HB 1361. Request TAHC cease and desist all premise registration, voluntary and mandatory, and stop any collection of fees.

April 24 Austin American Statesman - Future of your private farm and ranch information on NAIS database- There is a thriving black market for personal data and information on the Web. -

April 21: World Net Daily: Another organization formed to fight NAIS at the national level.

April 21: Scam Alert ! They are more snakes in the NAIS grass than they are snakes in hell- don't step on one ! Scam Alert !