Antibiotics legislation needs your support today!

November 3, 2003

Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) recently joined their

House colleagues, Representatives Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Wayne Gilchrest

(R-MD) to introduce legislation that, if enacted, will end the overuse of

medically important antibiotics in animal agriculture.

The overuse of antibiotics contributes to the rise of antibiotic-resistant

infections in humans that are costly and difficult to treat. Moreover, the

burden of antibiotic resistance is borne by the most vulnerable in our society:

children, the elderly, and those with already weakened immune systems, such as

people undergoing chemotherapy or persons with HIV/AIDS.

The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (S. 1460/H.R. 2932)

will phase out the practice of feeding massive quantities of antibiotics to food

animals within two years of enactment. Livestock and poultry producers misuse

these life-saving medicines to accelerate animal growth and prevent diseases

caused by overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on industrial-style factory

farms, not to treat disease. An estimated 70% of antibiotics and related drugs

produced in this country--nearly 25 million pounds per year--are used in animal

agriculture for these nontherapeutic purposes. This amount is more than 8 times

the antibiotics and related drugs used to treat human illness.

While some producers and retailers of meat products have announced policies that

take steps to curb antibiotic use, private-sector initiatives to reduce

antibiotic use in animal agriculture are rare, limited in scope, and difficult

to verify. Federal action is needed to achieve comprehensive reductions and

create a level playing field for all producers and retailers.

Passage of The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act is critical

to keep antibiotics working for human health. In addition to averting the

harmful effects of antibiotic overuse on human health, ending this practice will

force producers to raise animals using more sustainable methods.

The American Medical Association and over 300 other health, consumer,

environmental, agricultural, and humane organizations support The Preservation

of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act.

Your voice is needed to build support for this critical legislation. Write to

your Senators and member of Congress and urge them to cosponsor this legislation

to preserve antibiotics as an important tool to protect human health!

Act Now. Click on this link to send an email letter.

Antibiotics legislation needs your support today!

Antibiotics are being misused in meat production to accelerate animal growth

and prevent diseases caused by overcrowded and unsanitary factory farm

conditions, contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant diseases in humans.

Fortunately, bi-partisan bills to end the overuse of medically important

antibiotics in animal agriculture were recently introduced in the House and the

Senate. Please urge your Congressmembers to cosponsor these bills to preserve

antibiotics for you and your family.

November 03, 2003

Your U.S. senators [input]

Your U.S. representative [input]

Please feel free to personalize this message, your voice counts.

I am writing to urge you to protect human health and cosponsor The Preservation