Dear Oregon Organic Consumer,
The Oregon House Rules committee has revived SB 633 - dubbed Oregon's Monsanto Protection Act - and will be voting on it today. If they pass the bill, it could move to the House floor for a vote as early as this afternoon. We need your help - State Representatives will tell you that hearing from their constituents does matter. If SB 633 becomes law, all local control of agricultural seed and seed products would be removed and replaced by a “one size fits all” policy dictated by the state.
This bill is a thinly veiled attempt to silence concerns over genetically engineered foods and gut all county efforts at addressing the growing of genetically engineered crops. SB 633 would prevent individual counties from implementing policies that make sense locally.
Even worse, due to flawed language, the bill could also impact a long list of already existing local policies such as the preservation of heritage trees in the city of Eugene or invasive species management in Clackamas County. If SB 633 is enacted, local governments will be unsure of their rights and responsibilities until the courts can define the terminology and scope of the legislation.
Thousands of Oregon citizens contacted the Oregon legislature this Spring with their concerns over SB 633. Many of the legislators who currently support the bill don't understand it. If they hear from us, it could change their minds.
Contact your state Representative today and tell them to vote NO on SB 633!
Oregon farmers are defending their livelihoods - and your food supply - against Monsanto, Syngenta and the other biotech companies that have been moving into the state’s seed growing regions with genetically engineered junk-food crops that will contaminate and destroy Oregon’s organic and non-GMO seeds.
SB 633 is a direct attempt by the biotech industry to prevent Oregon farmers from protecting their seeds and crops through the passing of local, countywide bans on growing GMO crops.
Please ask your representative to vote NO on SB 633!
-- Alexis and Melinda, for the whole OCA Team
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