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NOW is the time to get focused.

Posted: July 22 2015

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Friends,

A new federal bill is threatening our food safety and farming security by prohibiting

  • GE Labeling and
  • adequate regulation of GE crops being grown

HR1599 (the so-called "Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act") is headed for a vote in the House this week! That means Your Representative will be voting on it soon.

Make your voice heard before Thursday-- call the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121. They will send you to your Representative's office.

Speak to a staffer or LEAVE A MESSAGE!:

We call this legislation the "DARK Act" ("Denying Americans their Right to Know").  The Chairman of the Committee reporting the legislation to the House floor has received money from both Monsanto and the Koch brothers, in addition to industry trade groups! There are two significant problems with this bill: it would prohibit consumers from knowing about genetic manipulation of their food and it would also prohibit farmers from protecting their crops from genetic contamination.

The industry claims that labeling would cost consumers a huge amount of money; but labels change all the time without price increases and independent studies show that labeling foods with GMOs, would average only $2/year for consumers!

Please take a moment to make your voice heard. Every call really does count.
Key Talking Points:
HR 1599  Undermines state and local control by preventing states and local government from regulating GE crops to protect farmers and the environment and also barring them from adopting their own GE labeling laws.
1)  Harms family farmers by nullifying all existing laws that protect farmers and consumers
There is a wide diversity among farming economies in the United States—cash crops, organic vegetables, seed crops, etc. Given this diversity, it is essential that local communities be able to regulate farming practices so they are fit for the region-- instead of being subjected to one-size-for all federal regulations. For example, Washington’s special legislation to prevent the growing of GM crops in counties where the brassica seed industry exists—this would be overturned.
2) Undermines local rights of consumers to know what is in their food.
  • Prevents the FDA or State/local governments from requiring companies to label GE ingredients and instead continues a failed “voluntary” labeling policy that has been in place since 2001. Surveys show 90% of consumers want foods containing GM to be labeled.
  • Allows for GMOs to be labeled as “natural”
Tell Congress to OPPOSE the DARK Act and instead SUPPORT mandatory GE food labeling!

Categories:

Politics & Activism

Tags:

call NOW!, DARK act, pro label, right to know, speak out!