As legislative markup gets underway, Senate Agriculture Committee continues to exclude Save Our Bacon Act from the Farm Bill, reinforcing the need for bipartisan solutions that unite, rather than divide Americans
WASHINGTON (August 6, 2026)—The Senate Agriculture Committee did not pass a Farm Bill today, leaving the controversial Save Our Bacon Act out of the legislation as negotiations continue. Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society Legislative Fund, offers its observations on what’s next, the status and strength of state-level farm animal welfare laws like California’s Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’s Question 3 at this time, and the future of the Save Our Bacon Act.
Sara Amundson, president of Humane World Action Fund, said:
“One thing stood out today as the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance a Farm Bill: the Save Our Bacon Act did not see the light of day. This is good news for farmers who've already invested in more humane systems. It's good news for the millions of voters who've approved farm animal protections in state after state. And it's good news for anyone who wants Congress focused on fixing real agriculture problems instead of fighting old battles.
“Committee members, including Chairman John Boozman and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, wisely chose not to cave to the stubborn faction of the pork industry that keeps losing just to reopen the same debate and allow more animal cruelty. That's not agriculture policy. That's special-interest politics at its worst.
“That approach should remain the guiding principle for Congress as Farm Bill negotiations continue. We are deeply grateful to the thousands of advocates, farmers, veterinarians, businesses and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who made their voices heard clearly and decisively. Their leadership helped keep this misguided power play by Big Pork out of the committee's work, and we will continue working with Congress to ensure it stays out of any legislative package.”
For nearly two decades, Congress has repeatedly rejected attempts to overturn state farm animal welfare laws. From the failed King Amendment in three separate Farm Bill debates, to the EATS Act, to the Save Our Bacon Act being debated this Congress, these proposals have now failed at least six times because lawmakers from both parties recognize they undermine states' rights, disregard voter-approved laws and reward a handful of backward-facing pork industry interests.
Explore more about the congressional and legal debates around state farm animal protection laws in this explainer and timeline.
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Media Contact: Liz Bartolomeo; ebartolomeo@humaneaction.org; 240-472-0475
