SR0127 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0127 LRB096 11862 GRL 22762 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois currently maintains a system for tracking ownership and movement of livestock within the boundaries of the State; the imposition of a National Animal Identification System represents an unnecessary intrusion into that system; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has cooperated, and will continue to cooperate, with the various states and the federal government to provide efficient and accurate tracking in matters concerning animal and human safety and welfare; and

WHEREAS, The stated purpose of a national animal identification system is the protection of food supplies; a more appropriate focus for the federal government would be to conduct tests at the point of animal slaughter, especially in the case of large-scale processors; and

WHEREAS, The national animal identification system as put forth is voluntary; the objective is that it would become mandatory at some future time; and

WHEREAS, A mandatory national animal identification system would be a tremendous burden to Illinois' small livestock owners, not to mention an invasion of their privacy and an infringement upon the right of owners to manage their businesses as they see fit; the system would further result in a requirement to be licensed by the federal government in order to own livestock and would place financial burdens on producers who are already struggling to make their businesses profitable; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we believe that animal identification and premise registration efforts should remain at the State level and not be initiated at the national level; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the President of the United States, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Illinois congressional delegation.