CREMA - SB 201

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137 N. Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004 • email us

Assembly Health Committee Hearing on
Tuesday, June 24th.

This is a critical hearing and your attendance and phone calls will make a difference!

SB201- The Fresh Raw Milk Act of 2008, will be heard by the Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday, June 24th, 1:30 p.m. in room 4202 of the State Capitol. Your enthusiastic support and attendance is critical to getting the votes we need to pass this Committee. The bill will also be heard by the Assembly Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, June 25th at approximately 1:00 p.m. Your calls to the people below will help us stand up to FDA and CDFA pressure at the Health Committee hearing!

PHONES MUST BE RINGING OFF THE HOOK. Please Begin Calling Now!

Contact the following Health Committee members and tell them you want SB201 passed! Printable sheet with talking points here (pdf).

Mervyn M. Dymally - Chair Dem-52 (916) 319-2052 Fax -319-2152 Assemblymember.dymally@assembly.ca.gov	Mary Hayashi Dem-18 (916) 319-2018 Fax -319-2118 Assemblymember.Hayashi@assembly.ca.gov
Alan Nakanishi - Vice Chair Rep-10 (916) 319-2010 Fax -319-2110 Assemblymember.nakanishi@assembly.ca.gov	Edward P. Hernandez Dem-57 (916) 319-2057 Fax -319-2157 Assemblymember.Hernandez@assembly.ca.gov
Patty Berg Dem-1 (916) 319-2001 Fax -319-2101 Assemblymember.berg@assembly.ca.gov	Bob Huff Rep-60 (916) 319-2060 Fax -319-2160 Assemblymember.huff@assembly.ca.gov
Wilmer Amina Carter Dem-62 (916) 319-2062 Fax -319-2162 Assemblymember.Carter@assembly.ca.gov	Dave Jones Dem-9 (916) 319-2009 Fax -319-2109 Assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.gov
Hector De La Torre Dem-50 (916) 319-2050 Fax -319-2150 Assemblymember.DeLaTorre@assembly.ca.gov	Sally J. Lieber Dem-22 (916) 319-2022 Fax -319-2122 Assemblywoman.lieber@assembly.ca.gov
Kevin de Leon Dem-45 (916) 319-2045 Fax -319-2145 Assemblymember.deLeon@assembly.ca.gov	Fiona Ma Dem-12 (916) 319-2012 Fax -319-2112 Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov
Bill Emmerson Rep-63 (916) 319-2063 Fax -319-2163 Assemblymember.emmerson@assembly.ca.gov	Mary Salas Dem-79 (916) 319-2079 Fax -319-2179 Assemblymember.Salas@assembly.ca.gov
Ted Gaines Rep-4 (916) 319-2004 Fax -319-2104 Assemblymember.Gaines@assembly.ca.gov	Audra Strickland Rep-37 (916) 319-2037 Fax -319-2137 Assemblymember.strickland@assembly.ca.gov
Loni Hancock Dem-14 (916) 319-2014 Fax -319-2114 Assemblymember.hancock@assembly.ca.gov	Check out this great piece on SB 201.

Thank you all for your positive and amazing support. Your feedback has been instrumental in helping the voices of CReMA craft a message that will be heard loudly and clearly by our state legislators. The supporters of raw dairy and the farms that produce this wonderful food are diverse in many ways, yet strong and passionate of heart and spirit. This growing coalition is a very powerful force as we continue to work together to support the legislators who support us.

The next few weeks will be crucial! CReMA will provide newsletters with up-to-date status of SB201 as it moves through the Legislature.

SB201 is an "Urgency Bill" so your support will be crucial to get those extra votes!

Because SB 201 will be designated an urgency bill, it will go into effect immediately after being signed by the Governor. The challenge of an urgency bill, however, is that we need a 2/3 majority, rather than a simple majority, for the bill to pass.

Any positive media coverage we can obtain will help save raw milk. If you have contacts at major outlets, please encourage them to cover our story. Letters to editors and posts on blogs can also work wonders in our favor. Our lawmakers listen if we speak up loud and clear!

Positivity is a force multiplier. This is one of CReMA's strategies. And CReMA is us. Stay positive, stay in the loop and speak out loud!

CLICK HERE TO FORWARD THIS LETTER TO FRIENDS!

SB201: Fresh Milk Act of 2008 - The Details

SB 201 starts its abbreviated journey through the legislative process this week. With six hours of Senate hearings and testimony from experts from around the world, the Senate record on raw milk is strong. Because of the tremendous amount of work by Senator Dean Florez, Senator Don Perata, Assemblyman Mike Villines, Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, Assemblyman Tom Berryhill, Whole Foods President Walter Robb, Sally Fallon, Dr. Ron Hull, Dr. Ted Beals and many others, this world class Raw Milk bill has gathered broad political support.

SB 201 provides for at least eight times more testing for E. Coli 0157:H7, standard plate count, and coliforms as each raw milk dairy is required to provide an independent lab product samples at least twice per week. There is presently no such requirement in California law. In the past, CDFA has performed simple tests that were used as indicators that harmful pathogens may be present. SB 201 instead requires the CDFA to test directly for the pathogens that cause illness in humans at least once per month. CDFA may take raw milk samples from any location deemed appropriate. Testing directly for pathogens provides a more accurate picture of what is contained in the final product.