For decades now, factory farmers have relied on antibiotics to speed the growth of their animals and to keep them alive in filthy, crowded conditions. As a result 80 percent of our antibiotics now go to these animals unnecessarily, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria are springing up all over the place.  One particularly dangerous strain known as MRSA kills over 18,000 people each year in the United States. This is a deadly serious problem.

Rep. Louise Slaughter has reintroduced a bill that would regulate this antibiotic abuse. Rightly called the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (HR 965), it would halt the non-therapeutic use of 7 classes of antibiotics, preservig their effectiveness for us and future generations.

As Rep. Slaughter put it, "Unless we act now, we will unwittingly be permitting animals to serve as incubators for resistant bacteria." Please sign the petition in support of this life-saving bill!

Photo: Casey Fleser