Beginning today, a letter signed by hundreds of clergy and faith leaders across traditions is being hand-delivered to every U.S. Senate office, calling on senators to strip the “Save Our Bacon” amendment from the 2026 Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill, renewed about every five years, sets federal food and agriculture policy. “Save Our Bacon,” Section 12006 of the House-passed version, is the pork industry’s latest effort to roll back state and local animal protection laws. Like its failed predecessor the EATS Act, “Save Our Bacon” could preempt more than 600 laws related to food safety, disease control, and animal welfare, including ballot measures passed by wide margins banning the confinement of mother pigs in gestation crates. The conservative Supreme Court rejected the industry’s most recent attempt to overturn California’s protections in 2023; this amendment is an effort to accomplish through legislation what litigation could not.
The letter, which I wrote in consultation with interfaith colleagues, was signed by faith leaders from 30 denominations and faith traditions across 34 states and Washington, D.C.
It’s time add your voice to ours: please take two minutes to contact your senators and urge them to strip “Save Our Bacon” from the Farm Bill. Find your senators’ contact information here.
The interfaith letter and signatories are below.
—
June 10, 2026
The Honorable John Boozman
Chairman
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar
Ranking Member
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Senate Agriculture Committee Members
U.S. Senate
328A Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
U.S. Senate Members
Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and Distinguished Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee:
We write as hundreds of clergy and faith leaders from 30 denominations and traditions, spanning 34 states and Washington, D.C., and are joined by 25 faith organizations. For millennia, our traditions have called those in power to account for how they treat the most vulnerable. Today, we write to you not as partisans but as moral witnesses: Section 12006 of the House Farm Bill, the “Save Our Bacon” (“SOB”) amendment, is wrong, and we call on you to remove it. Our communities span Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalist, Unity, and Jain traditions. We do not agree on everything. But we agree on this.
What This Amendment Does
The SOB amendment could preempt over 600+ state and local laws, including laws that seek to prevent disease outbreaks, regulate the importation of livestock, and ban sales of products that cities and states have determined result from cruelty.
SOB is not a modest or technical provision. It is a sweeping federal intervention designed to protect one industry’s profits from the informed moral discernment of the American people. When citizens overwhelmingly judge the most intensive confinement practices incompatible with mercy, they should be free to say so in law. This amendment would deny them that right.
Our Scriptures and Traditions Do Not Allow Us to Be Silent
Across religious traditions, concern for animals’ unnecessary suffering is a longstanding moral value.
Jewish law’s principle of tza’ar ba’alei chayim prohibits causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Proverbs 12:10 teaches that “a righteous person knows the needs of their animal,” reflecting the moral obligation to attend to the well-being of domesticated creatures.
The Christian tradition entrusts humanity with dominion: not unchecked exploitation, but the stewardship of a guardian (Genesis 1:26-28). The Psalmist proclaims: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Jesus taught that every sparrow is valued by God (Luke 12:6). We are creation’s caretakers.
Islamic teaching speaks of khalifa: humanity as God’s vicegerent on earth, charged with justice and mercy toward all of God’s creation. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught that there is a reward for every act of mercy shown to a living creature (Sahih al-Bukhari 2466; Sahih Muslim 2244).
Buddhist and Hindu teachings place ahimsa, non-harm, at the center of an ethical life. Hindu tradition grounds that imperative in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the recognition that all living beings are kin. For Buddhists, reducing suffering is not optional: it is the path.
The gestation crate is a metal box so small that a pig cannot turn around. She is stressed, frustrated, and sore, without relief for years of her life. Across our traditions and American society, it is understood that causing extreme suffering for the sake of profit is a moral failure. SOB would reinstate that practice and shield it from democratic accountability. We cannot be silent about it.
This Is Not a New Fight
The pork industry has attempted the same federal preemption before: through the King Amendment in 2013 and 2018, the EATS Act as standalone legislation in 2023-24, and seven lawsuits against California and Massachusetts, one of which reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Each legislative attempt failed, and the conservative SCOTUS ruled in favor of California in 2023. Now, having exhausted all avenues, the pork industry persuaded the House Rules Committee to block a floor vote on an amendment that would have removed SOB, and had enough publicly committed supporters to pass, even while the Rules Committee permitted 57 other amendments.
That is not good-faith policymaking. People of faith have a name for it: injustice.
Widespread Opposition
Prominent conservatives, including Laura Ingraham, Tomi Lahren, Mike Cernovich, and Glenn Greenwald, and liberals, including Nicholas Kristof and Steven Pinker, are speaking out against SOB. Opposition in the House came from Representatives Luna, Mace, and Garbarino, as well as Representatives McGovern, Costa, and Craig. And Senators Warren, Markey, Booker, Padilla, and Schiff are opposing this dangerous language as well.
After all, the first states to ban the practice that industrial pork producers are trying to protect, confining mother pigs in gestation crates for months on end, were conservative states, including Florida (2002) and Arizona (2006). Progressive states, including California and Massachusetts, followed. Believing in humane dominion over the animals is truly a non-partisan issue.
Conclusion: A Moral Line
We are not single-issue voters. We care about hunger, poverty, and the farmers and workers who feed this country. We do not come to this letter as adversaries of agriculture.
But we know a moral line when we see one. Billions of animals live and die within the American food system. They experience fear and pain. They have no voice in the halls of power, and so we as faith leaders must use ours. The Save Our Bacon amendment asks the Senate to be the instrument by which the democratic voice of Americans on this question is permanently silenced.
Guided by the values at the heart of our respective traditions, we implore you to ensure that NO iteration of “Save Our Bacon” is part of any Farm Bill.
Respectfully submitted,
FAITH LEADERS:
Rabbi Nelly Altenburger, Rabbi, CT
Rev. Jenny Amstutz, Minister, Columbine UU Church, CO
Rabbi Amy Josefa Ariel, MN
Rev. Kelly Asprooth-Jackson, Co-Senior Minister, First Unitarian Society of Madison, WI
Rev. Ben Atherton-Zeman, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of St. Petersburg, FL
The Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson, Visiting Scholar, Graduate Theological Union, Starr King School for the Ministry, CA
Rabbi Justus Baird, NJ
Rev. Adam C. Bowling, Pastor, First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City, VA
Rev. Elizabeth Barish Browne, Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Cheyenne, WY
Rev. Wendy Bartel, Co-Minister, NY
Dr. Eliot Baskin, Rabbi, Shalom Park, CO
Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein, IL
Hope Bohanec, Executive Director, Compassionate Living, OR
Rev. Emily Boring, Associate Rector, All Souls Episcopal Parish, CA
Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, TX
Rev. Jamie Elaine Boyce, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango, CO
Rev. Dr. David Breeden, Unitarian Universalist Humanist, MN
Rev. Tricia Brennan, Jamaica Plain, MA
Rabbi Rick Brody, CO
Rev. Emily Bruce, Minister, First Parish Church, Kingston, MA
Rev. Darrah Bryans, Minister, First Parish Church, UU in Duxbury, MA
Rev. Dr. John Buehrens, Past President, Unitarian Universalist Association, CA
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Minister, UU Society of Sacramento, CA
Rev. Thomas Burke, Preston City Congregational Church, CT
The Rev. Dr. Gail Cafferata, Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, CA
Susan Caldwell, Director of Religious Education, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Shreveport, LA
Rev. Dr. Madelyn Campbell, MA
Rev. Florence Caplow, Minister, Vashon Island Unitarian Universalist, WA
Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, MD
Friend Kathryn Carpenter, Orange Grove Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, CA
Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer, Unitarian Universalist Minister, MA
Rev. Jennifer Channin, Community Minister, CA
Rev. Joseph Cherry, First Parish in Brookline, MA
Rev. Jan Christian, CA
Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, Executive Director, Huffington Ecumenical Institute, Boston, MA
Rev. Monica Clark-Robinson, Unitarian Universalist minister, DE
Rev. Peggy Clarke, Senior Minister, Community Church of New York, NY
Rabbi Geoffrey Claussen, Chair and Professor of Religious Studies, Elon University, NC
Rev. Karen Cleveland, Spiritual Leader, One Love Animal Connection, WA
Rev. Dr. Barbara Coeyman, Interim Minister, CO
Rabbi Eva Cohen, Or Emet: Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, MN
Rabbi Judy Cohen-Rosenberg, NC
Rev. Hillary Collins-Gilpatrick, Minister, First Universalist Church, Yarmouth, ME
Chaplain Rabbi Dr. Susan Conforti, CA
Rev. Dr. Deborah Conrad, Pastor (ret), KY
Rev. D. Scott Cooper, Associate Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, TX
Rev. Rebecca C. Coppola, Unitarian Universalist Minister, MA
Rev. Dr. Steven Craig, CA
Rabbi Jonathan Crane, GA
Pastor Bethany Cseh, Senior Pastor, Arcata United Methodist Church and Catalyst Church, Humboldt, CA
Rev. Diana Davies, Minister, Unitarian Congregation of Taos, NM
Animal Chaplain Elizabeth DeCoux, Buckman Bridge Unitarian Universalist Church, FL
Rev. Carol Devine, Senior Director, Blessed Tomorrow, KY
Rabbi Tova Dodi, MD
Rabbi Ira Dounn, NJ
Professor William Dyrness, Senior Professor of Theology and Culture, Fuller Theological Seminary, CA
Sister Kathleen Duffy, SSJ, President, American Teilhard Association, PA
Rabbi Laurence Edwards, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation Or Chadash, IL
Rabbi Barat Ellman, NY
Rev. Russell Elleven, IL
Bekah Estrada, Southern California Director, California Interfaith Power & Light, CA
The Rev. Sandra L. Etemad, Rector, All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Norristown, PA
Rev. Suzanne Fast, Community Minister, EqUUal Access, FL
Rev. Anne Felton Hines, Minister Emerita, CA
Rabbi Zev-Hayyim Feyer, GA
Rev. Carla Ficke, Retired Chaplain, CO
Father Michael Fincher, Rector, St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, CA
Rev. Roberta Finkelstein, Retired Unitarian Universalist Minister, VA
Rev. Julie Forest, Affiliate Community Minister, First Unitarian Church San Diego, CA
Rev. Cara Fortner, Minister, VA
Rev. Lynne A. Fry, Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Northport, MI
Pastor Rick Fry, CA
Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright Fulson, Lead Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, NC
Rev. Kali Fyre, Lead Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church, NH
Rev. Elaine Gehrmann, Co-Minister, UU Church of the Monterey Peninsula, CA
Rev. Jude Geiger, Lead Minister, Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists, VA
Rev. Sierra-Marie Gerfao, CT
Rev. John Gibbons, Emeritus Minister, First Parish in Bedford, MA
Rev. Dr. Gordon Gibson, Minister Emeritus, IN
Sister Alice Marie Giordano, Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation coordinator, Ursulines of the Roman Union, Eastern Province, NY
Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, CA
Rev. Shad Groverland, Unity Minister, TX
Rev. Roland Halpern, CO
Rev. Fred L. Hammond, Developmental Minister, Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, FL
Rev. Dr. Marni Harmony, Minister Emerita, First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Unitarian Universalist, FL
Rabbi Jill Hausman, Actors’ Temple Congregation Ezrath Israel, NY
Rev. Kathleen Hepler, First Parish of Sudbury, MA
Rabbi Leah Herz, CA
Rev. Anne Hines, Minister Emerita, Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, CA
Rev. Mark Hoelter, Church of the Larger Fellowship, DC
Rabbi Melissa Hoffman, Executive Director, Center for Jewish Food Ethics, CO
Rev. Lara Hoke, Minister, First Church Unitarian, Littleton, MA
Rev. Carrie Holley-Hurt, TX
Rev. Phyllis Hubbell, Emeritus, First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, MD
Rev. Tara Humphries, Senior Minister, Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, ME
Rev. Dr. Susanne Intriligator, Minister, Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church, MA
Rabbi Debbie Israel, Rabbi Emerita, CA
Rev. Stanley Jenkins, Head of Staff, Market Square Presbyterian Church, PA
Rev. Chris Jimmerson, Lead Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, TX
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson, IL
Rev. Dr. Bruce Johnson, Minister, Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, MI
Rev. Amy Johnson, WA
Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson, Minister, Unitarian Church of Hinsdale, IL
Reverend Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, VT
Rev. Jonalu Johnstone, Spiritual Director, OK
Rev. Jeff Jones, Community Minister, GA
Pastor Calvon Jones, MA
Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, Co-Director, SC
Rev. Thea Keith-Lucas, Chaplain, MA
Friar James Kent, OFM Conv, MN
Matthew King, President, Christian Animal Rights Association, PA
Rabbi Emma Kippley-Ogman, Jewish and Interfaith Chaplain, Macalester College Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, MN
Rabbi Adam Kligfeld, Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth Am, CA
Rabbi Michael L. Kramer, DE
Rabbi Leah Kurtz, CA
Rev. Michelle LaGrave, Minister, Granite Peak UU Congregation, AZ
Rev. Darcey Laine, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Cortland, NY
Rev. Kathy LaPoint, United Methodist Clergy, CA
Rev. Linds Lawrence, Pastor, IL
Rev. Michael Leuchtenberger, Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord, NH
Rev. Peter Levenstrong, CA
Rev. Leika Lewis, DE
Rabbi Paige Lowenstein, CA
Hazzan Abbe Lyons, NY
Rev. Kristin Maier, Minister Emerita, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Northfield, MN
Sister Mimi Maloney, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, WA
Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, CT
Rabbi Dr. Susan Marks, IL
Cantor Rabbi Jacqueline Marx, NC
Deacon Daniel Mascarenhas, Society of Jesus, Boston College, MA
Rev. Kim Mason, Lead Minister, First Unitarian Church of St. Louis, MO
Rev. Dr. Stephanie May, Senior Minister, First Church in Boston, MA
The Rev. Cody Maynus, Rector, All Saints Church, MN
Reverend Chris McArdle, Pastor, First Congregational Church UCC, MN
Rev. Megan McDermott, Episcopal priest, VA
Rev. Matthew McHale, Minister, First Unitarian Church of San Jose, CA
The Rev. Dr. Barbara Merritt, Minister Emerita, First Unitarian Church, MA
Rev. Carol Millspaugh, Retired United Methodist Minister, CA
Rev. Dick Millspaugh, APC Board-Certified Chaplain, United Methodist, CA
Rev. John Millspaugh, Director of Education, Farm Forward, CA
Rev. Sarah Millspaugh, Unitarian Universalist, CA
Rabbi David Mivasair, PA
Rev. Dr. Gregory Mobley, Yale Divinity School, CT
Rev. Mary Moore, Unitarian Universalist, IL
Rev. Jill Morrison, CT
Dr. Richard Mouw, President Emeritus, Fuller Theological Seminary, CA
Rev. Sean Neil-Barron, Executive Minister, Foothills Unitarian Church, Fort Collins, CO
Rev. Margie Osborn, MI
Rev. Dr. Tovis Page, Co-Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Santa Rosa, CA
Rev. KC Marie Pandell, Minister, Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, CA
Rev. Dawn Parr, NC
Rev. Carolyn Patierno, Retired, CT
Rabbi Alexis Pearce, Healthcare Chaplain, CA
Rev. Dr. Michelle Pederson, Spiritual Director, TN
Rabbi Amy Pessah, Rabbi, FL
Rev. Wendy Pratt, CA
Rabbi Charles P. Rabinowitz, NY
Rev. Laura Randall, Community Minister, UU Service Committee, MA
Pastor Manuel Retamoza, St. Andrew’s Lutheran, CA
Ms. Valerie Richards, Chaplain, CA
Rev. Tracey Robinson-Harris, MA
Rev. Carol Rudisill, Retired, CA
Dr. Mark Rutkowski, Founder, Laudate Deum Prayer Network for Climate Healing, CA
Rev. Misha Sanders, Chaplain, GA
Dr. Jean Saul, Retired Executive Secretary for Leadership Education, CO
Rev. Carol Saunders, Senior Minister, The Spiritual Forum, WI
Rev. Christian Schmidt, Minister, Unitarian Universalists of Gettysburg, PA
Cantor Eric Schulmiller, Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore, NY
Rev. David Schwartz, Lead Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder, CO
Rev. Jill Schwendeman, MN
Rabbi Erica Sekuler, NJ
Rabbi Gerald Serotta, MD
Rabbi Jeremy Sher, CA
Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner, Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth Tikvah, GA
Rev. Maddie Sifantus, Minister Emerita, Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula, CA
Rabbi Rachel Simmons, Temple Beth El, ME
Rev. Clara Sims, Associate Minister, NM
Rev. McKinley Sims, Senior Pastor, UU Church of Mt. Airy, PA
Rev. Susan Smith, Antelope Park Church of the Brethren, NE
Rev. Suzi Spangenberg, Associate Minister, Board Member, Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, CA
Rev. Melissa Sparks, Minister, NC
Rev. Kristina Spaude, Minister, FL
Rabbi Lane Steinger, St. Louis, MO
Rev. Lóre Stevens, Minister, Unitarian Universalism, TN
Rev. Sarah Stewart, MA
Rev. Jullan Stoneberg, Interim Minister, First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, MN
Rabbi Yaffa-Shira Sultan, Rabbi, Seacrest Village Retirement Community, CA
Rev. Alan Taylor, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Society in Geneva, IL
Rev. Arthur Thomas, Minister, CT
Rev. Shelly Thompson, Minister, Palomar Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vista, CA
Rev. Dr. Jordan Thrasher, Senior Pastor, Embry Hills United Methodist Church, GA
Rev. Dr. Joel Tishken, Unitarian Universalist, IN
Rabbi Jason Van Leeuwen, Rabbi, Temple B’nai Hayim, CA
Rev. Dr. Gretel Van Wieren, Professor of Religious Studies, Michigan State University, MI
Rev. Deanna Vandiver, Community Minister for Love and Liberation, Church of the Larger Fellowship, WA
Rev. Dr. Michelle Walsh, MA
Rev. Dr. Regina Walton, Denominational Counselor and Lecturer, Harvard Divinity School
Rev. Greg Ward, Minister, Mission Peak UU Congregation, CA
Rev. Amy Carol Webb, Minister Emerita, River of Grass Unitarian Universalist, DE
Rabbi Abi Weber, Associate Rabbi, Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel, PA
Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, Jewish community, PA
Rabbi Ora Weiss, MA
Rev. Vail Weller, Unitarian Universalist Association, PA
Dr. Tisa Wenger, Professor, Yale Divinity School, CT
Rev. Christana Wille McKnight, Minister, Star Island Corporation, NH
Rabbi Michal Woll, VT
Rev. Ben Wyatt, Priest-in-Charge, Church of the Nativity, Episcopal, IN
Rev. Sharon Wylie, Senior Minister, Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation, CA
Rev. Michal Yoshi, Pastor Emeritus, Buena Vista United Methodist Church, CA
Rev. Judy Zimmerman, OR
Theresa Zingery, President, Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry, MN
Cantor Michael Zoosman, Co-Founder, L’chaim! Jews Against the Death Penalty, MD
Faith leaders’ titles and institution names are provided for identification purposes only.
FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS:
State/Local
The Community Church of Boston, Boston, MA
The Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Grand Junction, CO
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light, Atlanta, GA
Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light, Louisville, KY
Linda Vista United Methodist Church, San Diego, CA
Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore, Manhasset, NY
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Hillsborough, NC
National
Boundless Love Project (Intertraditional), Lakeville, MN
Buddhist Global Relief, Carmel Hamlet, NY
Center for Jewish Food Ethics, Philadelphia, PA
Christian Animal Rights Association, Pittsburgh, PA
Christian Vegetarian Association, Cleveland, OH
Circle of Compassion (Buddhist), Lawrence, KS
Compassion Consortium (Interspiritual), New York, NY
Compassionate Living (Jain), Eugene, OR
Creation Justice Ministries (Christian), Washington, DC
Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit, Iona University (Catholic), New Rochelle, NY
Saint Francis Institute for Animals (Catholic), Austin, TX
Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy, Scottsdale, AZ
International
Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (Jewish), based in Cleveland, OH
Dharma Voices for Animals (Buddhist), based in San Francisco, CA
Jewish Vegan Life, based in Orlando, FL
Passionist Solidarity Network (Roman Catholic), based in New York City, NY
The Spiritual Forum, Inc. (Unity), based in Sullivan, WI
Unitarian Universalist Animal Ministry, based in Minneapolis, MN
Photo credit: Balvik C./We Animals