DES MOINES, IOWA — On Aug. 9, Brenna Bird, the attorney general for Iowa, published a letter supporting the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act introduced by Congress.

The letter, signed by 15 other attorneys general, explained how the proposed federal legislation would give states the tools needed to reverse California’s Proposition 12 and other similar laws.

The proposed legislation was set up following the Supreme Court upholding Prop 12 in May.

“Our states support letting individuals buy the animal products they want and to allow states to lawfully regulate livestock production within their own borders,” Bird wrote. “But when a state decides to regulate outside its borders, and to try to impose its agenda on other states, that goes too far.”

In the letter, Bird said 20 states signed a Supreme Court brief explaining their position on future pork production.

“America’s pork production is nationwide and relies on coordination across the country. One state, or even a few states, should not upend that system,” Bird said. “And California is learning the wrong lesson — that it can dictate, and that the nation must follow. Given the direct impact California’s Prop 12 has on interstate commerce, Congress should pass the EATS Act.”

Senator Roger Marshall, (R- Kan.), along with other Republican partners, introduced the EATS Act in June.

Other senators backing the EATS Act include Senators Chuck Grassley (Iowa), John Cornyn (Tx.), Tom Cotton (Ark.), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Kevin Cramer (ND), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Eric Schmidt (Mo.), Tedd Budd (NC) and Bill Hagerty (Tenn.).