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OFFICIAL COMMITTEE VIDEO · 3:01:45Pick a point on the bar to jump thereTap the bar to jump3:01:45
Why this hearing
On the record: 6 witnesses: 5 from business and trade groups and 1 academic.
Witnesses include pork-industry and farm groups, a restaurant association, and an agricultural economics professor.
Real oversight or theater?
Did this hearing get real answers, or was it mostly speeches?
NO RATINGS YET
What each witness said
The main points of each witness’s written statement.
National Pork Producers CouncilVice President · Patrick Hord
- Argues Proposition 12's costly requirements fragment the national pork market, reduce productivity, and threaten smaller producers.
- Asks Congress to preempt Proposition 12 and similar state rules that impose production standards beyond state borders.
“Without congressional intervention, the industry is left vulnerable to a regulatory patchwork that fractures the national pork market based on arbitrary and costly state-by-state requirements.”
Iowa Farm BureauFarmer, Board Member · Matt Schuiteman
- Asks Congress to address conflicting state laws and maintain a consistent approach to interstate commerce.
- Reports Pipestone research found higher lameness treatment, culling, and death rates in Prop. 12 barns than in stall barns.
“This ruling makes it clear that Congress is uniquely positioned to address this issue and help maintain a consistent approach to interstate commerce.”
National Pork Producers CouncilEconomist · Holly Cook
- Argues Proposition 12 pressures out-of-state producers to convert, adding costs and reducing productivity.
- Warns a 50-state patchwork of conflicting animal-housing rules adds uncertainty and risk for pork producers.
“the size and relative importance of the California market means pressures associated with Proposition 12 have widespread impacts.”
American Farm Bureau FederationDeputy General Counsel, Litigation & Public Policy · Travis Cushman
- Asks Congress to address states imposing their production laws on other states.
- Warns laws like Proposition 12 raise animal welfare, human health, and farm sustainability concerns.
“One thing is clear from the case: Congress is the branch with responsibility now to address the problem of states imposing their production laws on other states.”
Latino Restaurant AssociationExecutive Director · Lilly Rocha
- Argues Proposition 12 has raised California pork prices and disrupted supply, burdening small Latino and Asian restaurants and families.
- Asks Congress to address the law's unintended consequences for food equity, cultural identity, and small businesses.
“These small businesses lack the resources to secure compliant pork or absorb its high costs, creating a two-tiered market that disadvantages minority-owned enterprises.”
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Department of Agricultural EconomicsProfessor & Extension Specialist · Tiffany Dowell Lashmet
- Reports Congress could pass a nationwide law on products raised under specific living conditions within Commerce Clause limits.
- Describes the Supreme Court's ruling allowing Prop 12 to stand and says its fractured opinions make future application harder to predict.
“There is little doubt that, should Congress want to do so, it could pass a nationwide law related to the sale of products raised under specific living conditions”
- Argues Proposition 12's costly requirements fragment the national pork market, reduce productivity, and threaten smaller producers.
- Asks Congress to preempt Proposition 12 and similar state rules that impose production standards beyond state borders.
“Without congressional intervention, the industry is left vulnerable to a regulatory patchwork that fractures the national pork market based on arbitrary and costly state-by-state requirements.”
- Asks Congress to address conflicting state laws and maintain a consistent approach to interstate commerce.
- Reports Pipestone research found higher lameness treatment, culling, and death rates in Prop. 12 barns than in stall barns.
“This ruling makes it clear that Congress is uniquely positioned to address this issue and help maintain a consistent approach to interstate commerce.”
- Argues Proposition 12 pressures out-of-state producers to convert, adding costs and reducing productivity.
- Warns a 50-state patchwork of conflicting animal-housing rules adds uncertainty and risk for pork producers.
“the size and relative importance of the California market means pressures associated with Proposition 12 have widespread impacts.”
- Asks Congress to address states imposing their production laws on other states.
- Warns laws like Proposition 12 raise animal welfare, human health, and farm sustainability concerns.
“One thing is clear from the case: Congress is the branch with responsibility now to address the problem of states imposing their production laws on other states.”
- Argues Proposition 12 has raised California pork prices and disrupted supply, burdening small Latino and Asian restaurants and families.
- Asks Congress to address the law's unintended consequences for food equity, cultural identity, and small businesses.
“These small businesses lack the resources to secure compliant pork or absorb its high costs, creating a two-tiered market that disadvantages minority-owned enterprises.”
- Reports Congress could pass a nationwide law on products raised under specific living conditions within Commerce Clause limits.
- Describes the Supreme Court's ruling allowing Prop 12 to stand and says its fractured opinions make future application harder to predict.
“There is little doubt that, should Congress want to do so, it could pass a nationwide law related to the sale of products raised under specific living conditions”
Who asked what
We haven’t logged who asked questions at this hearing yet.
Question logs come from the committee’s official video.
The committee
54 members · 29 Republicans, 25 Democrats
- Glenn ThompsonR-PA-15 · CHAIR
- Austin ScottR-GA-8 · VICE CHAIR
- Don BaconR-NE-2
- James R. BairdR-IN-4
- Mike BostR-IL-12
- Robert P. Bresnahan, Jr.R-PA-8
- Kat CammackR-FL-3
- Rick CrawfordR-AR-1
- Monica De La CruzR-TX-15
- Scott DesJarlaisR-TN-4
- Randy FeenstraR-IA-4
- Brad FinstadR-MN-1
- Mark HarrisR-NC-8
- Ronny JacksonR-TX-13
- Dusty JohnsonR-SD-AL
- Trent KellyR-MS-1
- Frank D. LucasR-OK-3
- Tracey MannR-KS-1
- Mark B. MessmerR-IN-8
- Mary E. MillerR-IL-15
- Barry MooreR-AL-1
- Dan NewhouseR-WA-4
- Zachary NunnR-IA-3
- Derrick Van OrdenR-WI-3
- John W. RoseR-TN-6
- David RouzerR-NC-7
- David J. TaylorR-OH-2
- David G. ValadaoR-CA-22
- Tony WiedR-WI-8
- Angie CraigD-MN-2 · RANKING
- Alma S. AdamsD-NC-12
- Shontel M. BrownD-OH-11
- Nikki BudzinskiD-IL-13
- Salud O. CarbajalD-CA-24
- Jim CostaD-CA-21
- Sharice DavidsD-KS-3
- Donald G. DavisD-NC-1
- April McClain DelaneyD-MD-6
- Shomari FiguresD-AL-2
- Adam GrayD-CA-13
- Jahana HayesD-CT-5
- Jonathan L. JacksonD-IL-1
- John W. MannionD-NY-22
- Jim McGovernD-MA-2
- Chellie PingreeD-ME-1
- Josh RileyD-NY-19
- Kristen McDonald RivetD-MI-8
- Andrea SalinasD-OR-6
- David ScottD-GA-13
- Eric SorensenD-IL-17
- Shri ThanedarD-MI-13
- Jill N. TokudaD-HI-2
- Gabe VasquezD-NM-2
- Eugene Simon VindmanD-VA-7
Witnesses
- Patrick HordVice President, National Pork Producers CouncilWITNESS TYPENon-governmentalTHIS CONGRESSFirst appearance
- Matt SchuitemanFarmer, Board Member, Iowa Farm BureauWITNESS TYPENon-governmentalTHIS CONGRESSFirst appearance
- Holly CookEconomist, National Pork Producers CouncilWITNESS TYPENon-governmentalTHIS CONGRESSFirst appearance
- Travis CushmanDeputy General Counsel, Litigation & Public Policy, American Farm Bureau FederationWITNESS TYPENon-governmentalTHIS CONGRESSFirst appearance
- Lilly RochaExecutive Director, Latino Restaurant AssociationWITNESS TYPENon-governmentalTHIS CONGRESSFirst appearance
- Tiffany Dowell LashmetProfessor & Extension Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Department of Agricultural EconomicsWITNESS TYPENon-governmentalTHIS CONGRESSFirst appearance
In the news
No news coverage of this hearing yet.
Timeline & documents
- Hearing noticed (done)
- Held (done)JUL 23, 2025 · 10:00 AM – 12:56 PM
- Video posted (done)JUL 23, 2025 · 12:56 PM
- Written testimony posted (done)JUL 23, 2025 · 8:59 AM
- Questions for the record (not yet)NOT POSTED YET
- Printed transcript (done)PUBLISHED DEC 15, 2025
- Written testimony (6)PAGE (opens the committee’s file)
- Statements for the recordPDF (opens the committee’s file)
- Questions for the recordPENDING
- TranscriptPDF (opens the committee’s file)
- Printed transcriptPDF (opens the committee’s file)
Written follow-up questions from members, answered after the hearing. aren’t posted yet. The printed transcript is out.
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