Ballot initiatives that would have required state-based labels on food products containing biotech ingredients failed in yesterday’s election in Coloradoand Oregon. The margins were 68 to 32 percent in Colorado and 51 to 49 percent narrow defeat in Oregon. The results are great news for consumers as well as farmers. Unfortunately, the fight over state biotech food labeling will go on and ASA must be prepared to continue its efforts to keep biotech products in the marketplace.

Click here to view a memorandum from the Steering Committee of the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, of which ASA is a member, calling on all CFSAF organizations to contact Members of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and urge their support for HR 4432, the “Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act” sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS). As indicated, the Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill on December 10. Prior to the hearing, CFSAF field teams in 13 states will be focusing efforts on key Members of the Health Subcommittee. These include the following Representatives in states represented by ASA (an asterisk indicates a co-sponsor of HR 4432):

• Florida Bilirakis-(R) and Castor-(D)
• Michigan Rogers-(R) and Dingell-(D)
• New Jersey Lance-(R) and Pallone-(D)
• Pennsylvania Pitts-(R) and Murphy-(R)
• Georgia Gingrey-(R) and Barrow-(R)
• North Carolina Ellmers-(R)* and Butterfield-(D)*
• Maryland Sarbanes-(D)
• Texas Burgess-(R), Hall-(R), Barton-(R) and Green-(D)
• Illinois Shimkus-(R)* and Schakowsky-(D)
• Tennessee Blackburn-(R)*

Please contact each of your House Members between now and the Dec. 0 hearing and ask them to co-sponsor HR 4432 if they haven’t already done so. In addition, the CFSAF field team in your state may be asking for your assistance over the coming weeks to seek support from specific Members of the Health Subcommittee, and your help would be greatly appreciated.

Please let John Gordley, in ASA’s Washington office, know if you have questions or in the event you are requested to contact your Members of Congress by the CFSAF field team in your state.