1999 Senate Joint Resolution 13
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: memorializing Congress to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act to allow for the interstate shipment of state-inspected meat.
Whereas, currently, federal law prohibits cattle, sheep, swine, goat, chicken, turkey, duck, goose and guinea fowl products that are inspected under state meat inspection programs from being shipped across state lines, while federal law allows state-inspected ostrich, venison, buffalo and pheasant to be shipped across state lines; and
Whereas, foreign meat products may be shipped freely among the states; and
Whereas, Wisconsin has 300 state-inspected plants, none of which is allowed to market products in interstate commerce due to an outdated federal law; and
Whereas, Wisconsin and the United States are currently suffering from a hog market crisis, including a closure of packing facilities and a reduction in slaughter activity, due in part to these outdated interstate restrictions; and
Whereas, the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act are restricting the opportunity for these small plants to expand their markets across state lines, provide additional slaughter capacity for pork producers and increase the demand for their products; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature request Congress to address problems in the meat-processing industry concerning packing, processing and marketing capacities; and, be it further
Resolved, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature request Congress to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act to allow for interstate shipment of all state-inspected meats; and, be it further
Resolved, That the senate chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States and to each of the senators and representatives from Wisconsin.
