- Ashley Hinson has repeatedly opposed California agricultural regulations like Proposition 12, arguing they unfairly impact Iowa livestock producers and violate interstate commerce, introducing and co-sponsoring the EATS Act in response (Manchester Press; Telegraph Herald).
- Hinson emphasizes protecting producers' autonomy in animal-raising practices, stating her legislative efforts would not restrict how producers raise livestock but aim to prevent out-of-state mandates (Telegraph Herald).
- She has consistently criticized federal and California-driven overregulation in agriculture, advocating for fewer EPA rules on farmers and more producer flexibility (Des Moines Register; Globe Gazette).
- Hinson has prioritized federal funding for animal health research and solutions to livestock disease outbreaks, notably advocating for increased bird flu research funding and highlighting USDA’s $1 billion avian influenza response plan (Des Moines Register; Gazette).
- Some critics argue that Hinson’s support for the EATS Act favors large corporate agriculture interests at the expense of existing environmental, health, and safety standards (Letter to the Editor - Gazette).
August 2021: Ashley Hinson Criticized California's Approach To Agricultural Regulation According to Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), '"California liberals think that bacon is grown at the grocery store," Hinson said.' [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 8/27/21]
August 2024: Ashley Hinson Opposed California's Ability To Dictate Livestock Standards For Iowa Producers According to The Gazette, 'We’re not telling producers what to do here,' said U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. 'We’re respecting producers to raise their animals the way they want to.' [The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 8/28/24]
2021: Ashley Hinson Introduced Legislation To Counteract California Livestock Law According to The Gazette, 'Hinson introduced legislation in 2021 to counteract the California law, but it was not adopted by lawmakers.' [The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 8/28/24]
August 2024: Ashley Hinson Identified Inspection Process Challenges At Facility According to Manchester Press, 'An interesting take away from our discussion here is about the inspection process and what that looks like,' she said. 'There is an incongruence with the USDA rules and the FDA rules. It just so happens I might be able to do a thing or two about getting those agencies to come to the table, so I'm looking forward to getting back to Washington and taking action on that.' [Manchester Press (Iowa), 9/4/24]
Ashley Hinson Opposed Federal Overregulation In Agriculture In 2022 According to Des Moines Register, "Bureaucrats shouldn't be overregulating puddles on Iowa farms, and California shouldn't be dictating how Iowa pork is raised." [Des Moines Register (Iowa), 10/7/22]
February 2023: Hinson Introduced Legislation To Counter California Proposition 12 Regarding Hog Sales According to Manchester Press (Iowa), "Hinson addressed California's Proposition 12, which would ban the sale of hogs to California if the animals are raised in confinement facilities. 'We have introduced legislation to counter that,' she said. 'I believe it's anti-consumer. [...] We need a stable, affordable food supply and this doesn't do that.'" [Manchester Press (Iowa), 2/22/23]
May 2023: Ashley Hinson Announced Plans To Reintroduce Bill To Overturn California's Animal Welfare Law According to Gazette, "Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson plans to reintroduce legislation to overturn California's animal welfare law that mandates more housing space for pigs in order for their pork to be sold in that state." [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 5/19/23]
May 2023: Hinson Announced Plans To Reintroduce Legislation To Overturn California's Animal Welfare Law According to Muscatine Journal, "Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson plans to reintroduce legislation to overturn California's animal welfare law that mandates more housing space for pigs in order for their pork to be sold in that state." [Muscatine Journal (Iowa), 5/19/23]
2021: Hinson Initially Introduced The Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act According to Muscatine Journal, "The Republican-backed bill, introduced in 2021, failed to pass in the previous Congress." [Muscatine Journal (Iowa), 5/19/23]
August 2023: Hinson Asserted EATS Act Protected, Not Violated, States’ Rights According to Telegraph Herald, "In an interview with reporters, Hinson said the EATS Act does not tread on states' rights, but instead protects them." [Telegraph Herald, 8/24/23]
August 2023: Hinson Co-Sponsored The EATS Act To Address State Agricultural Laws Like California's Proposition 12 According to Telegraph Herald, "The bill, co-sponsored by all of Iowa's congressional delegation, is a response to California's Proposition 12, a state voter-approved measure that bans the import of pork from pigs raised in the size of pens used by most of Iowa's large-scale hog barns." [Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 8/24/23]
August 2023: Hinson Asserted The EATS Act Protected States' Rights And Producers' Choices According to Telegraph Herald, "In an interview with reporters, Hinson said the EATS Act does not tread on states' rights, but instead protects them. 'There's nothing (in the EATS Act) prohibiting any producer from choosing to raise their animals a specific way,' she said. 'That's what we want to protect - that choice.'" [Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 8/24/23]
2024: Letter Writer Berleen Wobeter Asserted Ashley Hinson Supported EATS Act Favoring Corporate Ag Interests According to a letter to the editor published in Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), "When the corporate ag industry and multinational meatpacking giants come calling as they did with the EATS Act, which guts already minimal environmental, health and safety standards for industrial livestock factories, Hinson jumps right in." [Letter to the Editor - Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 1/30/24]
2022: Hinson Supported Funding Animal Health Research And Opposed New EPA Regulations On Farmers According to Globe Gazette, she "will seek to secure funding for animal health research and biotechnologies in next year's farm bill, and will seek to protect crop insurance and other safety net programs for farmers, while pushing against climate change policies that increase or impose new Environmental Protection Agency regulations on farmers." [Globe Gazette (Mason City, Iowa), 10/9/22]
August 2023: Hinson Defended The Choice Of Producers On Animal Raising Practices According to Telegraph Herald, "There's nothing (in the EATS Act) prohibiting any producer from choosing to raise their animals a specific way," she said. "That's what we want to protect that choice." [Telegraph Herald, 8/24/23]
August 2023: Hinson Pledged To Monitor Additional Legislation On Interstate Livestock Shipments According to Telegraph Herald, "Hinson said she would watch for the legislation Hein mentioned." [Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 8/24/23]
August 2023: Hinson Claimed Opposition To The EATS Act Was Based On Misconceptions According to Telegraph Herald, "Hinson told attendees Wednesday that opposition to the EATS Act was based on misconceptions among animal rights groups and supporters." [Telegraph Herald, 8/24/23]
August 2023: Hinson Called The Opposition To The EATS Act A 'Misunderstanding' Among Animal Rights Groups According to Telegraph Herald, "Hinson told attendees Wednesday that opposition to the EATS Act was based on misconceptions among animal rights groups and supporters. 'There is a huge misunderstanding about the level of care provided to the animals,' she said. 'It is in everybody's best interest to treat our hogs well.'" [Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA), 8/24/23]
August 2023: Ashley Hinson Advocated For The EATS Act And Discussed Its Importance To Iowa Hog Producers According to Manchester Press (Iowa), "U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson spoke with members of the National Pork Producers Council during a stop in Manchester Aug. 23, with Hinson telling council members she hopes to include the EATS Act in the next farm bill. Speaking at Pin Oak Pub & Links, Hinson said the EATS (Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression) Act is important to Iowa hog producers." [Manchester Press (Iowa), 8/30/23]
2023: Ashley Hinson Co-Sponsored The EATS Act As A Response To California Proposition 12 Regulations According to Manchester Press (Iowa), "The EATS Act, which would prevent states from regulating farmers and ranchers nationwide when it comes to how they raise livestock, was co-sponsored by Hinson and comes as a response to California Proposition 12." [Manchester Press (Iowa), 8/30/23]
August 2023: Ashley Hinson Asserted That The EATS Act Would Not Prohibit Producers From Their Preferred Animal-Raising Methods According to Manchester Press (Iowa), "Following her talk with the pork council, Hinson said nothing in the EATS Act prohibits producers from raising their animals in a specific way. 'We want to protect that choice,' she explained. 'There could be a mom and pop restaurant in California that wants to sell pork raised in a specific way. That should be their right to find a retailer that wants to produce something that way. What I don't want to see is a complete shut out of a market.'" [Manchester Press (Iowa), 8/30/23]
August 2023: Ashley Hinson Criticized Proposition 12 For Violating The Interstate Commerce Clause According to Manchester Press (Iowa), "Hinson noted that California produces 13% of the pork raised in the United States. 'In essence, by putting a mandate like this (Prop 12), you are telling the rest of the country how they have to do it for their 13% of the market. I think that is in direct violation of the interstate commerce clause, which is why I think the EATS Act is the appropriate policy.'" [Manchester Press (Iowa), 8/30/23]
2024: Elaine St. Clair Questioned Ashley Hinson's Support for Farmers According to a letter to the editor published in Gazette, "Hinson recently put out a statement that she is working hard for farmers. Hardly. Consider that 73% of America's agriculture workers were not born here, according to the USDA." [Letter to the Editor - Gazette, 11/3/24]
December 2024: Ashley Hinson Voiced Concerns Over Bird Flu Outbreaks In Iowa According to Des Moines Register, "Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson Thursday voiced concerns for the agriculture industry and consumers dealing with a string of bird flu outbreaks detected in Iowa after a five-month lull." [Des Moines Register, 12/13/24]
December 2024: Hinson Addressed Rising Egg Prices During Holidays Due To Bird Flu According to Des Moines Register, '"We're at a time when, I know I met with egg producers not too long ago, and Easter and Christmas season are the most expensive times for eggs, which is normally a very cheap and accessible protein for Iowa Americans,' she said." [Des Moines Register, 12/13/24]
March 2025: Ashley Hinson Referenced USDA $1 Billion Plan to Combat Avian Flu and Support Egg Producers According to Gazette, "Hinson noted the USDA in February announced a $1 billion plan to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza, including investments in biosecurity, farmer relief and research on vaccines, therapeutics and 'other strategies to help alleviate the need for them to … kill off their entire flock.'" [Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA), 4/3/25]
April 2025: Hinson Cited USDA Actions On Egg Prices And Bird Flu According to Globe Gazette, 'Hinson noted the USDA in February announced a $1 billion plan to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza, including investments in biosecurity, farmer relief and research on vaccines, therapeutics and "other strategies to help alleviate the need for them to … kill off their entire flock."' [Globe Gazette, 4/3/25]
April 2025: Hinson Highlighted USDA Actions To Address Egg Prices Spurts According to Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Iowa), "On egg prices, Hinson noted the USDA in February announced a $1 billion plan to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza, including investments in biosecurity, farmer relief and research on vaccines, therapeutics and 'other strategies to help alleviate the need for them to … kill off their entire flock.'" [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Iowa), 4/3/25]
April 2025: Hinson Noted USDA Actions On High Egg Prices According to Gazette, Hinson noted the USDA in February announced a $1 billion plan to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza, including investments in biosecurity, farmer relief and research on vaccines, therapeutics and "other strategies to help alleviate the need for them to … kill off their entire flock." [Gazette, 4/8/25]
March 2023: Ashley Hinson Raised Concerns About Avian Influenza Impact In Iowa According to Telegraph Herald, "Asked about bird flu by Hinson, Vilsack said his department expects its spread to continue. As of Wednesday, the disease had been detected in more than 58 million backyard and commercial birds since January 2022, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks have been reported in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin." [Telegraph Herald, 3/31/23]
March 2023: Ashley Hinson Stated Continued Attention On Avian Influenza And Federal Response According to Telegraph Herald, "After the hearing, Hinson said she would continue to pay attention to the spread of avian influenza and the federal response to it. 'We saw inflation hit, but demand (for eggs) didn't drop,' she said. 'Inflation was super high in December, but demand didn't drop because of the holiday baking season. Now inflation is high, but now it's Easter, so demand is still high again. We have been talking about all of the different practice changes (producers) have made internally. But they can't lose millions of birds or control demand.'" [Telegraph Herald, 3/31/23]
March 2023: Hinson Raised Concerns About Avian Influenza Impact On Iowa Producers According to Telegraph Herald, "Asked about bird flu by Hinson, Vilsack said his department expects its spread to continue. As of Wednesday, the disease had been detected in more than 58 million backyard and commercial birds since January 2022, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks have been reported in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin." [Telegraph Herald, 3/31/23]
March 2023: Hinson Stated She Would Monitor Avian Influenza Spread And Federal Response According to Telegraph Herald, "After the hearing, Hinson said she would continue to pay attention to the spread of avian influenza and the federal response to it." [Telegraph Herald, 3/31/23]
March 2023: Hinson Commented On Persistently High Egg Demand Despite Inflation According to Telegraph Herald, "'We saw inflation hit, but demand (for eggs) didn't drop,' she said. 'Inflation was super high in December, but demand didn't drop because of the holiday baking season. Now inflation is high, but now it's Easter, so demand is still high again. We have been talking about all of the different practice changes (producers) have made internally. But they can't lose millions of birds or control demand.'" [Telegraph Herald, 3/31/23]
2024: Hinson Pushed Congress To Invest In Animal Health Research According to Des Moines Register, "Hinson said in a call with reporters Thursday it's a priority for her to push Congress to make investments in research related to animal health. She said her team is in regular contact directly with producers and agriculture officials." [Des Moines Register, 12/13/24]
Hinson Urged For More Federal Funding For Bird Flu Research During Previous Outbreaks According to Des Moines Register, "During past bird flu outbreaks, Hinson has called for more federal funding for research." [Des Moines Register, 12/13/24]