Legislation

HR 5269
Introduced May 2, 2006
The Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has introduced legislation to label genetically engineered foods call the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act (HR 5269).

Send form letters to Congress supporting the Genetically Engineered Foods Right to Know Act

Summary of HR 5269

HR 5269 in web-based format

Adobe Acrobat version of HR 5269

List of Cosponsors

Write to Congress

Legislation to label genetically engineered foods, called the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act, has been introduced before the House of Representatives. The bill number is HR 5269.

In order to gather support for the labeling legislation, we encourage you to mail letters of support by U.S. Postal Service to your House Representative and your state's two Senators.

By clicking on the name of your state below, you will go to a web page that lists the state's corresponding members of Congress. By clicking on a Representative's or Senator's name, you will go to the appropriate form letter.

Printing tip: In order to have each form letter print out on a single piece of paper, set your margins for .5" or 1/2" and turn off your headers and footers.

Write to President Bush

Letter to President Bush

Write to government agencies

Food and Drug Administration

Environmental Protection Agency

Department of Agriculture

Bills before House of Representatives

HR 5268
Introduced May 2, 2006

Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act

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.

HR 5268 in web-based format

Adobe Acrobat version of HR 5268

Given the consensus among the scientific community that genetic engineering can potentially introduce hazards, such as allergens or toxins, genetically engineered foods need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and cannot be presumed to be generally recognized as safe. The possibility of such hazards dictates a cautious approach to genetically engineered food approvals. However, FDA has glossed over the food safety concerns of genetically engineered foods and not taken steps to ensure the safety of these genetically engineered foods. This bill requires that all genetically engineered foods follow a strenuous food safety review process:

Requires FDA to screen all genetically engineered foods through the current food additive process to ensure they are safe for human consumption, yet continues FDA discretion in applying the safety factors that are generally recognized as appropriate.

Requires that unique concerns be explicitly examined in the review process, a phase out of antibiotic resistance markers, and a prohibition on known allergens.

Requires the FDA to conduct a public comment period of at least 30 days.

HR 5266
Introduced May 2, 2006

Genetically Engineered Crop and Animal Farmer Protection Act

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.

HR 5266 in web-based format

Adobe Acrobat version of HR 5266

Agribusiness and biotechnology companies have rapidly consolidated market power at the same time as the average farmer's profits and viability have significantly declined. Policies promoted by biotech corporations have systematically acted to remove basic farmer rights enjoyed since the beginning of agriculture. These policies include unreasonable seed contracts, the intrusion into everyday farm operations, and liability burdens. The introduction of genetically engineered crops has also created obstacles for farmers, including the loss of markets and increased liability concerns. To mitigate the abuses upon farmers, a clear set of farmer rights must be established. This bill provides several farmer rights and protections to maintain the opportunity to farm:

Farmers may save seeds and seek compensation for failed genetically engineered crops.

Biotech companies may not: shift liability to farmers; nor require access to farmer's property; nor mandate arbitration; nor mandate court of jurisdiction; nor require damages beyond actual fees; nor charge more to American farmers for use of this technology, than they charge farmers in other nations, or any other unfair condition.

Seed companies must: ensure seeds labeled non-GE are accurate; provide clear instructions to reduce cross-pollination, which contaminates other fields; and inform fanners of the risks of using genetically engineered crops.

The EPA is required to evaluate the concern of Bt resistant pests and take actions necessary to prevent resistance to Bt, an important organic pesticide.

The bill prohibits genetic engineering designed to produce sterile seeds and loan discrimination based on the choice of seeds an agricultural producer uses.

HR 5271
Introduced May 2, 2006

Genetically Engineered Organism Liability Act

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.

HR 5271 in web-based format

Adobe Acrobat version of HR 5271

Biotech companies are selling a technology that is being commercialized far in advance of the new and unknown science of genetic engineering. Farmers may suffer from crop failures, neighboring farmers may suffer from cross pollination, increased insect resistance, and unwanted ``volunteer'' genetically engineered plants, and consumers may suffer from health and environmental impacts. Therefore, biotech companies should be found liable for the failures of genetically engineered crops. This bill ensures that the creator of the technology assumes all liability:

The bill places all liability from negative impacts of genetically engineered organisms squarely upon the biotechnology companies that created the genetically engineered organism.

Farmers are granted indemnification to protect them from the liabilities of biotech companies.

The bill prohibits any transfer of liability away from the biotechnology companies that created the genetically engineered organism.

HR 5270
Introduced May 2, 2006

Real Solutions to World Hunger Act

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.

HR 5270 in web-based format

Adobe Acrobat version of HR 5270

The demand for mandatory labeling, safety testing, and farmer protections do not constitute obstacles to the cessation of world hunger. Economics remain the significant barrier to a consistent food supply, and the development of expensive genetically engineered foods may only exacerbate this trend. Almost all research funding for the development of genetically engineered food target the developed nation's agriculture and consumers. However, agroecological interventions have had significantly more success in helping developing nations feed themselves with higher yields and improved environmental practices, all within reasonable costs for developing countries. This bill offers several new initiatives and protections to help developing nations resolve their hunger concerns:
To protect developing nations, genetically engineered exports are restricted to those already approved in the U.S. and approved by the importing nation.

The bill creates an international research fund for sustainable agriculture research paid for the Sustainable Agriculture Trust Fund, a small tax on biotechnology company profits.

HR 5267
Introduced May 2, 2006

The Genetically Engineered Pharmaceutical and Industrial Crop Safety Act

HR 5267 in web-based format

Adobe Acrobat version of HR 5267

A pharmaceutical crop or industrial crop is a plant that has been genetically engineered to produce a medical or industrial product, including human and veterinary drugs. Many of the novel substances produced in pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops are for particular medical or industrial purposes only. These substances are not intended to be incorporated in food or to be spread into the environment. That would be equivalent to allowing a prescription drug in the food supply. Experts acknowledge that contamination of human food and animal feed is inevitable due to the inherent imprecision of biological and agricultural systems. This contamination by pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops pose substantial liability and other economic risks to farmers, grain handlers, and food companies. This bill attempts to prevent contamination of our food supply by pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops.

The bill places a temporary moratorium on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops until all regulations required in this bill are in effect.

The bill places a permanent moratorium on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops grown in an open-air environment and on pharmaceutical crops and industrial crops grown in a commonly used food source.

The United States Department of Agriculture shall establish a tracking system to regulate the growing, handling, transportation, and disposal of all pharmaceutical and industrial crops and their byproducts to prevent contamination.

The National Academy of Sciences shall submit to Congress a report that explores alternatives methods to produce pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals that have the advantage of being conducted in controlled production facilities and do not present the risk of contamination.

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Related Information

Quick legislation tutorial

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The value of writing letters

Writing letters to Congress or other governmental bodies is one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard.

To cite one recent example: in 1997, the U.S. Department of Agriculture tried to revise the definition of "organic" to include genetically engineered foods, irradiated foods and foods grown with toxic sludge-laced fertilizers. The country was outraged, and several hundred thousand people sent letters to the USDA protesting the proposal. The USDA backed down, and removed the offending foods from the organic definition.

The Campaign is using letters to government leaders as one of its main tools to win the labeling battle. We encourage you to write letters to your leaders, and to encourage your friends and family to do the same.

If you have the time and the gumption, please write your letters by hand. Handwritten letters are the most effective, because when you hand write a letter, the recipient knows you have gone to extra effort and the issue is especially important to you.

But don't worry if you need to send a form letter instead of a handwritten one. Behind handwritten letters, form letters are the most effective method of communication with members of Congress and other government leaders.