Update: It’s important to note that this bill is NOT about banning GMO foods, it’s ONLY about labeling so people can make their own decisions.
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Action: Contact Senators.
From the Organic Consumers Association:
DARK Day in D.C.
Yesterday, 275 members (see vote tally here) of the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of H.R. 1599, the DARK (Deny Americans the Right to Know) Act. By voting for the DARK Act, these politicians voted against truth and transparency, against science, against the more than century-old right of states to legislate on matters relating to food safety and labeling.
They voted against the 90-percent of Americans who are in favor of mandatory labeling of GMOs. They voted against the producers of non-GMO foods.
They voted against you.
Now that the DARK Act has been approved by the House, we’ll have to stop it in the Senate. We have to move fastbecause Monsanto is desperate to pass a bill that preempts mandatory GMO labeling laws at the state and federal levels, before Vermont’s GMO labeling law takes effect next year.
H.R. 1599 was sold to Congress via multi-million dollar public relations and lobbying campaigns built on lies and deception. The bill’s sole purpose is to support an industry–Monsanto’s poison-peddling industry–that was founded on lies and deception from the get-go.
Were the Congress members who voted against you fooled by Monsanto’s slick, deceitful packaging of this so-called “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act”? Or did they simply vote with their wallets, stuffed full of biotech and junk food industry cash?
Obviously OCA is worked up about this, with good reason:
According to the Environmental Working Group, a leading advocate for GMO labeling and major opponent of Rep. Pompeo’s legislation, the new Monsanto Protection Act would:
- Block all state laws requiring mandatory GMO labeling, including Vermont’s landmark labeling law;
- Prevent the FDA from establishing a national mandatory GMO labeling program;
- Possibly block non-GMO claims until the USDA creates a non-GMO certification program, which could take up to 10 years;
- Block all state and local efforts to protect rural communities and farmers from the impacts of GMO crops;
- Prevent claims by food companies that non-GMO foods are better than GMO ones.
The consequences of this legislation for our food system would be drastic and widespread. State-level efforts to label GMO foods that have already passed in states like Vermont, Maine, and Connecticut would be nullified. All local oversight and restrictions on genetically modified crops would be prohibited. Laws and regulations in states and communities with GMO-free agricultural zones, including in California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii, could be completely overturned.
Monsanto has significantly beefed up its lobbying efforts to pass this bill, spending nearly a half million dollars per month in total lobbying and boasting that it has contacted every single member of Congress.
With over 90% of Americans in favor of GMO labeling and the efforts of hundreds of thousands of CREDO activists who took action to repeal the Monsanto Protection Act the first time, we know this campaign is winnable. We must show Congress that there is overwhelming support for GMO labeling and urge them reject this huge giveaway to Monsanto, Big Ag, and their allies.
Tell Congress: Stop the new Monsanto Protection Act. Click the link below to sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/monsanto_protection_act_v2?t=6&akid=15060.2677315.ux3U_z
I looked up the votes of Minnesota’s congresscritters:
Kline (R) voted aye, of course. If it’s bad, Kline votes for it.
Walz (D) voted aye.
Paulsen (R) voted aye.
McCollum (D) voted aye. THIS is a disappointment.
Ellison (D) voted NO.
Emmer (R) voted aye. What would one expect?
Peterson (D?) voted aye. Again, what would one expect?
Nolan (D) voted NO. This guy is not bad except about anything to do with mining.
So of the eight, only two voted for transparency and healthy food. The other six voted for Monsanto and Big Food. Score: Monsanto: 75%. People: 25%.
Contact information is here: http://mn.gov/portal/government/federal/congress/minnesota-delegation.jsp
Now H.R. 1599 goes to the Senate, theoretically controlled by Democrats. So Senators Franken and Klobuchar need to hear from YOU:
Senator Al Franken
United States Senate
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5641
Contact Senator Franken
Senator Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3244
Web email form
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