WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – A California law that some lawmakers blame for higher pork prices across the country was in the spotlight on Capitol Hill.

A California law to prevent pigs from being too closely confined is having costly consequences for the rest of the country opponents of Proposition 12 told lawmakers Wednesday.

“Widespread adoption of Prop 12 like measures would almost certainly hasten the closing of doors for small and medium-sized farms,” said National Pork Producers Council Economist Holly Cook.

Proposition 12 mandates pigs in California have a certain amount of space to move around and any meat products sold in California must follow that standard, too.

“40% of the hogs come out of Iowa and yet we are bound by a state that is one tenth of 1% of the hogs. How egregious is that?” asked Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa.).

Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra says the law has raised costs for farmers to comply, led to pricier pork and not served its purpose of protecting pigs.

“When you create larger pens, they destroy each other this is what they do,” said Feenstra.

The Supreme Court upheld California’s law.  Justices said it’s up to Congress to regulate commerce between states, not the courts.

“They went all the way to SCOTUS, they lost, and now instead of moving on, they’ve come to Republicans for a legislative bailout,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.).

Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern says most Americans want humanely raised meat and others question whether California’s law is what’s causing the price increases.

“More tariffs equals higher food costs. That’s the bottom line,” said Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.).

Republican lawmakers are supporting legislation to ensure one state’s production standards don’t impact other states.

Democrats say a new law creates even more uncertainty for farmers.