Iowa newspaper editorial opposes “Save Our Bacon Act,” calling it political overreach that undermines voters and humane farming progress

WASHINGTON (July 31, 2025)—The Gazette, one of Iowa’s leading newspapers in the heart of America’s pork country, delivered an eye-opening staff editorial today calling the “Save Our Bacon Act” (H.R. 4673) pure politics and urging Congress to respect California voters who approved animal welfare standards.

The editorial—titled “‘Save Our Bacon’ smells like politics”—comes as Iowa Republican leaders, including Sen. Joni Ernst, Sen. Chuck Grassley, Rep. Ashley Hinson and Gov. Kim Reynolds, push federal legislation to override California’s Proposition 12, a landmark animal protection law, which was approved by 63% of voters and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill they support would also nullify the animal welfare laws of more than a dozen other states, red, blue and purple, across the nation.

The Gazette wrote:

“Over and over again, Republicans who run the Statehouse and don’t like decisions made by local leaders passed legislation yanking away local control. Now, Iowa Republican leaders and ag allies want a federal law telling Californians they have no right to pass a state law applying their values to the food they eat. So, we’re not on board with the agricultural status quo, which has given us dirty streams, lakes and rivers. And we’re not willing to condemn the will of California voters, who are not all activists.”

This view from heartland reflects what Humane World Action Fund and others have decried—Big Pork’s attempts to seek a congressional bailout to override farm animal welfare laws after a seemingly never-ending series of court losses.

In addition to these published articles, a diverse coalition of more than 6,600 groups and individuals, including over 5,300 farms across the country and over 200 bipartisan Members of Congress, have publicly called for an end to attacks on state and local agricultural laws. These varied supporters of humane farming laws reflect the widely shared public view that animals raised for food should not be kept in cages or crates so tight they can’t turn around. Polling shows 80% of U.S. voters favor a law within their state like Proposition 12, with roughly equal support among Republicans and Democrats, and a vast majority agreeing that states should set standards and laws for goods sold in their state.

Media Contact: Liz Bartolomeo: ebartolomeo@humaneaction.org, 240-472-0475