ACTION ALERT
Could Congress Pass a Law to Preempt States’ Rights to Label GMOs?
On Wednesday, May 15, the House Ag Committee passed the King Amendment, a measure some say could take away states’ rights to label genetically modified organisms (GMOs). (Find out if your Representative opposed or supported the King Amendment). If passed by the Senate, the King Amendment would take away states’ rights to “pass laws governing the production or manufacture of any agricultural product, including food and animals raised for food, that is involved in interstate commerce.”
The amendment was proposed by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), largely in response to a California law stating that by 2015, California will allow only eggs to be sold from hens housed in cages specified by California. But policy analysts emphasize that the measure, broadly and ambiguously written, might be used to prohibit or preempt any state GMO labeling or food safety law.
Will the King Amendment survive the Senate? No one can be sure, say analysts. However few doubt that Monsanto will give up. We can expect that more amendments and riders will be introduced into the Farm Bill – even if the King Amendment fails – over the next month in an attempt to stop the wave of state GMO labeling laws and initiatives moving forward in states like Washington, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut and others. That’s why we’re calling on consumers to tell their Congress members to reject any rider or amendment that would preempt state’s rights to label GMOs.
ACTION ALERT
Now’s Our Chance! Help Repeal the Monsanto Protection Act!
Responding to public outrage, and good old-fashioned common sense, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) has introduced an amendment to the Senate version of the 2013 Farm Bill that would repeal the infamous Monsanto Protection Act.
The Monsanto Protection Act, co-written by Monsanto and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo), was officially named the Farmers Assurance Program and cloaked as a measure to help farmers. But it’s really just another gift to the biotech industry. The rider, slipped into last year’s emergency spending bill without debate, gives Monsanto immunity from the federal courts - even if the company grows illegally approved, potentially dangerous genetically engineered crops.
There’s no time to waste. The Senate is working on the Farm Bill this week. Please contact your senators today!
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