Please consider contacting your legislator to express your support for farmers’ constitutional rights to produce natural wholesome raw milk, raw milk foods and other foods for direct sale to consumers and for consumers’ rights to acquire and consume these foods.
We continue to meet with Pennsylvania State Legislators concerning our desire to have the Milk Sanitation Act and other Milk laws changed to eliminate any requirement for permits or licenses with respect to direct farmer-to-consumer production and sales. At a minimum, the following corrective actions are required:
1. All those in government must truly support, obey and defend State and Federal Constitutions.
2. Exceptions from any government regulation and control must be made a part of all laws involving raw milk, other raw milk food, and other foods produced by farmers and sold directly to people by them.
3. Elimination of State and Federal alleged jurisdiction and prosecutions based on the Milk Sanitation Act and related Acts.
Representative Bryan Cutler is heading up efforts in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to address and resolve the “permit” and other concerns expressed by several farmers and consumers with respect to raw milk, raw milk products and other natural foods produced by and sold directly from Pennsylvania small, private farms. Senator Mike Folmer is leading these efforts in the State Senate. Several follow-up working meetings have occurred with Representative Cutler, Senator Folmer, and others to draft proposed legislation (see page 1 of this newsletter), that will except private farm food production and direct farmer-to-consumer sales from State and Federal Government regulation and control. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture continues to misapply various “laws”, “rules” and “regulations”. Their application of these “laws” to a private individual, private property and/or business is clearly unconstitutional. We understand that farmers have a God given right to produce wholesome, natural foods on our farms and consumers to obtain them and consume them. These rights are clearly secured, guaranteed and protected by the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Constitution for the United States of America. Those in government obviously refuse to recognize these, and other, rights. Apparently, most of the those in government at all levels have not even read the State and Federal Constitutions, much less “support, obey and defend” them as their constitutional “oath of office” requires.
We all need to repeatedly and consistently demand that those in government read, understand and always follow the State and Federal Constitutions. It is particularly important for us all to do this now. For, it appears that those in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate shall not be correcting the “Milk Laws” to insure the availability of unregulated raw milk foods of all types. At best, they plan to allow a few more un-pasteurized milk dairy foods for direct farmer to consumer sales at the farm as long as the farmer accepts and maintains a “raw milk permit” and other applicable “permits” from the PDA and/or FDA. We cannot do this. By applying for and obtaining a “license” or “permit”, the farmer admits that what we wish to do is unlawful or not allowed without the State’s permission, giving the State jurisdiction over us, our property and our business.
The lawful authority to do what we are doing is God. These inherent and indefeasible rights, like many others, are secured, guaranteed and protected by the State and Federal Constitutions. Just because those in government say that something is not allowed or is illegal, does not make it so. We do not need a “permit” or “license” from the government to exercise inalienable rights.
Emails and form letters usually are given limited attention, but making a phone call or writing a personal letter will get your legislator’s attention. Including your personal experiences and results from drinking raw milk and eating raw milk and other natural foods. Personal testimonials are very important and effective. You can find contact information for your legislator at www.legis.state.pa.us. Click on “Senate” or “House”, then “Who’s My Legislator”. This information can also be found in the Blue Pages of the telephone book.
Pennsylvania citizens, if your legislator is Representative Bryan Cutler (717-783-6424, bcutler@pahousegop.com) or Senator Mike Folmer (717-787-5708, mfolmer@pasen.gov) please contact them to encourage their continued support for these efforts. If you are represented by another legislator, consider contacting your representative and senator both to voice your support for these efforts and to encourage them to contact Rep. Cutler and Sen. Folmer to participate in the solution.
We can clearly demonstrate to those in government and others how many Citizens support this effort and how many of us are willing to share our testimonials and positive experiences about drinking raw milk, eating many other foods made with raw milk and consuming other natural, wholesome foods. We can all continue to make a difference by sharing what we know to be true.