Legislation to Require GMO Labels Introduced in House & Senate

The last time a GMO labeling bill was introduced in Congress it was by Dennis Kucinich in 1999 and now it’s being tried again.

Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced it in the Senate and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) in the House. It would require labeling of  all genetically modified foods.   

Last month, Senator Begich (D-AK) introduced an amendment – which was passed as part of the Senate budget resolution to require labels on genetically engineered fish.

Nine Senators and 21 Representatives have signed on to the bill as original co-sponsors.

Senator Co-Sponsors are:

Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jon Tester (D-MT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

House Co-Sponsors are:

Jared Polis (D-CO), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), James Moran (D-VA), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Don Young (R-AK), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), George Miller (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

Although 95% of Americans consistently say they want labels, the US is pretty much alone in keeping this information secret – 64 countries have mandatory labeling policies including the EU, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, China, South  Africa and Australia. 

Here’s one from the Netherlands:

This year, 37 labeling bills have been introduced in 21 states, including Hawaii, Washington, Indiana, Missouri, and Vermont, with many more expected by year’s end.

"In the U.S., we pride ourselves on having choices and making informed decisions. Under current FDA policy, we don’t have that choice when it comes to genetically engineered ingredients in the foods we purchase and feed our families," says the Center for Food Safety.

You can show your support for the bill here: