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Overview
The bills
What you can do
Wednesday, May 22, 2002
contact Doug Gordon (202) 225-5871 (w) (202) 271-7302 (c)
Kucinich Introduces Bills to Label Genetically Engineered Food and Protect Consumers Five bills introduced in the House of Representatives would provide a comprehensive regulatory framework
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) introduced five bills today that will provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for all genetically engineered plants, animals, bacteria, and other organisms.
"This technology is totally different from traditional breeding techniques," Kucinich stated. "Genetic engineering is a powerful technology. Current laws, such as our food safety and environmental laws, were not written with this technology in mind."
Combined Kucinich's bills would ensure that consumers are protected, increase food safety, protect farmers rights, make biotech companies liable for their products, and help developing nations resolve hunger concerns.
The bills which have all have over twenty co-sponsors in the House of Representatives have also been endorsed by the Sierra Club, National Farmers Organization, Center for Food Safety, Organic Trade Organization, and the American Corn Growers Association.
(Note: The names after each bill are the co-sponsors at the time of introduction. For the current co-sponsors and the status of each bill, go to Thomas/ Library of Congress and search for the bill number.)
H.R. 4812. A bill to provide additional protections for farmers and ranchers that may be harmed economically by genetically engineered seeds, plants, or animals, to ensure fairness for farmers and ranchers in their dealings with biotech companies that sell genetically engineered seeds, plants, or animals, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture.
By Mr. KUCINICH (for himself, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. NADLER, Mr. OLVER, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Ms. WATERS, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. WATSON, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. OWENS, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. HINCHEY, and Ms. LEE):
H.R. 4813. A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the safety of genetically engineered foods, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
By Mr. KUCINICH (for himself, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. MCKINNEY, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. NADLER, Mr. OLVER, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Ms. WATERS, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. WATSON, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. OWENS, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. HINCHEY, and Ms. LEE):
H.R. 4814. A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the Federal Meat Inspection Act, and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to require that food that contains a genetically engineered material, or that is produced with a genetically engineered material, be labeled accordingly; to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
H.R. 4815. A bill to ensure that efforts to address world hunger through the use of genetically engineered animals and crops actually help developing countries and peoples while protecting human health and the environment, and for other purposes; to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Financial Services, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. KUCINICH (for himself, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. MCKINNEY, Ms. RIVERS, Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. NADLER, Mr. OLVER, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Ms. WATERS, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. WATSON, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. OWENS, Ms. SOLIS, and Ms. LEE):
H.R. 4816. A bill to assign liability for injury caused by genetically engineered organisms; to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
By Mr. KUCINICH (for himself, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. DEFAZIO, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. NADLER, Mr. OLVER, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Ms. WATERS, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Ms. WATSON, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. OWENS, Ms. SOLIS, and Ms. LEE):
Contact your Representative and Senator in Congress and tell them to cosponsor these bills. At this time, we are concentrating on HR 4814, which deals with labeling.
For more information on these bills, see our coalition partner The Campaign.
Contact OCA
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