Thank Representative Slaughter for Leading the Charge to Protect Our Health!

An estimated 70 percent of all antibiotics used in the United States are regularly added to the feed and water of animals being raised for our food, a practice with serious consequences for our health. Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics develop resistance to these drugs. When humans get sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics prescribed will no longer work.

Representative Louise Slaughter knows the serious consequences of antibiotic overuse, and recently decided to lead the effort to pass legislation to address this issue in the House of Representatives. Slaughter’s bill would greatly reduce the use of antibiotics in food animals!

Please take a moment to send a personalized letter thanking Representative Slaughter for her work to protect public health. Every letter makes a difference, but customized letters have the greatest effect!

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Thank you for protecting our health!

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to thank you for your leadership to protect public health by sponsoring H.R. 2562, the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA).

This bill is so important given the fact that roughly 70 percent of antibiotics produced in the United States each year are added to the feed and water of food animals that are not sick. As you know, scientists agree that this practice is contributing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant human diseases, leading patients to suffer through longer illnesses and higher health care costs, and doctors to face a dwindling arsenal of drugs to fight disease.

Given the serious human health implications and enormous financial cost of antibiotic resistance, I am so grateful to have you working in Congress to protect the health of all Americans.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 10, 2006


Background Information

The overuse of antibiotics in both human medicine and animal agriculture 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 (PAMTA) will phase out the feeding of massive quantities of antibiotics important in human medicine to food animals within two years of enactment. Livestock and poultry producers use these life-saving medicines in animal feed not to treat disease but to accelerate growth and prevent diseases caused by overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions on industrial-style “factory farms.” An estimated 70 percent 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 estimated to be more than eight times the amount of 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 PAMTA is critical to keep antibiotics working for human health. In addition to averting the harmful effects of antibiotic overuse on human health, curtailing animal use of antibiotics will encourage producers to raise animals using more sustainable methods.

The American Medical Association and more than 350 other health, consumer, environmental, agricultural, and humane organizations support PAMTA.

Your voice is needed to build support for this critical legislation. Please write to your member of Congress and urge them to cosponsor this legislation to preserve antibiotics as an important tool to protect human health!