permaculture

["Forest Garden" <forestgarden@gvtc.com>]

Here is the full text of what I recieved - with a list of actions steps you
can take.  Yes!  thank you everyone for whatever help you can give.  I am
sure out-of-State responses would be helpful.  I don't know if this kind of
thing can be stopped, given the other legislation we've seen ram-rodded
through in the last few years, but it is certainly worth fighting for.

Isn't it just such a shame to have to fight for this from what is supposed
to be 'our' government?

Marjory

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

From: bastropcountygop-bounces@listserver.itfortress.com
[mailto:bastropcountygop-bounces@listserver.itfortress.com] On Behalf Of
Randy Givens
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 12:39 PM
To: bastropcountygop@listserver.itfortress.com
Subject: [Bastrop Republican News] NAIS Sneak Attack: New Meeting March
23,2006 to Adopt Rules to Implement Mandatory Premises Registration



The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has just announced a new meeting
on March 23rd, so they can formally adopt mandatory registration
requirements for every home, farm, ranch, etc. where ONE chicken, duck,
goat, sheep, horse, cow, llama, etc. is kept.



This is NOT just about Farmers and Ranchers, it will be required for
everyone who owns just ONE of any of the types of animals they are
targeting.

As of now, the proposed rules will also require registering locations where
parakeets, cockatiels, parrots and any other kind of caged pet bird are
kept.

Anyone who fails to register, or keep up their registration, may be fined up
to $1,000 a day!



A TAHC Fact Sheet is at:
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/animal_id/2005Dec_Animal_ID_FactSheet.pdf

Copies of the Proposed Rules (without any exceptions for anyone) is at:
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/December232005/PROPOSED/4.AGRICULT
URE.html#3



Don't be misled by their wording.  This is NOT just about registering
premises.  It is part of the National Animal Identification System NAIS),
being pushed by Industrial Agriculture, using the USDA to get the job done.



TAHC has "upped the ante" in that they had previously said any action on
this initiative was put off until May, then they said it was "postponed
indefinitely."   Well, "indefinitely" just became March 23rd.!!



With the Rule Adoption meeting being moved up so fast, in spite of the
overwhelming protests at their February 16th meeting, it appears obvious
that the bureaucrats are dead set on adopting this mandatory registration on
March 23rd.



In doing so, it also appears that TAHC intends to ignore the over 600
comments against their rules, along with ignoring the more than 80 people
who spoke out against the Rules at their last meeting.  When they do so, it
appears that they also intend to ignore the letters against the Rules, from
Texas Representatives Hughes and Hupp, which were submitted at their last
meeting.



Apparently, TAHC thinks it can bamboozle the Legislature into passing a law,
then ignore the protests of the people of Texas as they push to expand their
bureaucratic empire.



WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Please call, write, and fax your State Representatives and Senators to join
in the fight against this Animal Identification System (including Premises
Registration).

Tell everyone you know about this outrage.

Tell your newspapers, radio, and TV stations to inform their readers,
listeners, and viewers.  Tell them this is NOT just an agricultural issue,
it affects hundreds of thousands of Texans.

Politicians are making public appearances all over the place, getting ready
for the upcoming elections.  Go to those meetings and ask them to fight
NAIS.



After contacting your elected officials, submit fresh comments to TAHC at:
comments@tahc.state.tx.us, faxed to (512) 719-0721, or mailed to: Delores
Holubec, TAHC, Box 12966, Austin, TX 78711-2966.



Then, get everyone you can to go to the March 23rd meeting to protest this
outrage against our Rights and our Liberty!



Randy Givens

Paige, TX

==================================== TAHC PRESS RELEASE PASTED BELOW
=====================



http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/pr/2006/2006Feb_TAHC_Commission_Meeting.pdf

News Release

Texas Animal Health Commission

Box l2966 * Austin, Texas 78711 * (800) 550-8242 * FAX (512) 719-0719

Bob Hillman, DVM * Executive Director

For info, contact Carla Everett, information officer, at 1-800-550-8242,
ext. 710,

or ceverett@tahc.state.tx.us

For immediate release-February 28, 2006

TAHC Commissioners Set Meeting March 23 to Consider Proposed Regulations

for Premises Identification

Commissioners for the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) will meet at 8
a.m. Thursday, March 23, in Round Rock

(just north of Austin) to address proposed regulations for registering sites
where livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl,

and exotic fowl are held, managed or handled. The meeting will be held in
the Marriott North Hotel at 2600 La Frontera

Blvd. in Round Rock and is open to the public.

"The TAHC commissioners proposed regulations for premises registration at
their December meeting, following passage of

HB 1361, the legislative authority for the rules and fee collection. The
commissioners postponed action during their

February session, opting for more time to consider the comments received
during that meeting. It is important to note that

the commissioners will focus solely on the proposed regulations for premises
registration at the March 23 commission

meeting," said Dr. Hillman, Texas' state veterinarian and head of the TAHC,
the state's livestock and poultry health

regulatory agency. The TAHC's proposed regulations, "Premises and Animal
Identification" were published in the

December 23, 2005, issue of the Texas Register.

"The commissioners initially considered postponing action until May, but the
commission needs to resolve this issue sooner,

rather than later," said Dr. Hillman. "The commissioners have a number of
options in consideration of the proposed

regulations. They may: adopt the proposed regulations as presented; amend
the proposed regulations; forgo adoption; or

further postpone action."

"Premises registration is underway nationally, and is required in Wisconsin,
and soon will be required in Indiana. More than

205,000 sites have been signed up - 7,500 of those in Texas. Registration is
relatively easy, and information requested is

limited, including a contact name, phone number, physical address and a list
of species on the site. Registrants are not asked

how many acres or animals they own," said Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas' state
veterinarian and head of the TAHC, the state's

livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. He noted that Texas has more
than 200,000 premises.

"Knowing where species of animals are located would greatly enhance our
ability to alert owners and get ahead of a disease

outbreak before it spreads. In 2002, for example, Exotic Newcastle Disease
was detected in a neighborhood in Los Angeles.

The infection raced through small flocks, then spread to 22 commercial
flocks, costing $160 million to eradicate," said Dr.

Hillman. He said premises information, confidential by law, would enable
animal health officials to "map out" emergency

response, and save precious time searching for sites with susceptible
species, and exposed or potentially infected animals.

Dr. Hillman said recommended amendments to the proposed regulations would
allow 4-H and FFA students to be covered

by their 4H club or FFA chapter premises identification numbers, if the
students maintain animal projects on a site that,

otherwise would not need to be registered.

Recommended amendments also would exempt persons if they have only caged
exotic fowl (such as, but not limited to

parakeets, budgies, finches, canaries, cockatiels, parrots and other caged
birds) and these fowl are housed in the person's

residence and not used for sale, barter or exchange. Dr. Hillman noted that,
during an avian disease outbreak, the TAHC

may require the premises to be registered, if the site is within a
quarantine, surveillance or eradication zone established by

the TAHC for controlling or eradicating the disease.

The proposed regulations call for premises registration to be compulsory,
beginning July 1, 2006. Persons could register

their premises in Texas at no charge through June 30, 2006. The premises
registered prior to July 1, 2006, would be due for

a two-year renewal July 1, 2008, when a $10 per year fee would be paid as a
biennial fee of $20 fee for two years.

Under the proposed regulations, persons who register on or after July 1,
2006, would pay the $20 two-year fee upon initial

registration. Registration renewal and the $20 two-year fee would be
required every 24 months thereafter.

Premises can be registered now online at http://www.tahc.state.tx.us, or by
completing a registration form and faxing or

mailing it to the TAHC. Many county extension agents, as well as
agricultural associations, have registration forms

available, or can assist in registering online. The TAHC also has staff
members who can assist by phone. The TAHC's

headquarters in Austin can be reached toll-free at 1-800-550-8242.

---30---

http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/agency/meetings.shtml

Commission Meetings
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) meets as needed to study the
regulatory needs of the agency, review public comments on proposed
regulation changes, and adopt new rules when necessary.

The next Commissioners' Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 23rd, 2006.

February (THEY MEAN MARCH) 23rd Meeting Information:

Time:

The meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m.

Location:

Austin Marriott North Hotel

2600 La Frontera Boulevard

Round Rock , TX 78681

Map & Directions

View map, directions, & hotel contact information