Leahy, Shaheen Sign On to GE Labeling Bill

Last week, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) officially joined 11 other Senators in co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to require food manufacturers to inform consumers when packaged food contains genetically engineered ingredients.

Introduced in April of this year by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), “The Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act” advocates for greater food transparency, and supports what the majority of Americans are asking for: labeling of genetically engineered foods.

The bill’s popularity signals a growing awareness of this issue in Congress, and, whether or not it passes, will have the intended effect of placing pressure on the White House and the FDA to act on this issue.

See full list of co-sponsors below:

Senate (13):

Sen Begich, Mark [AK] Sen Blumenthal, Richard [CT] Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] Sen Heinrich, Martin [NM] Sen Leahy, Patrick J. [VT] Sen Merkley, Jeff [OR] Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] Sen Sanders, Bernard [VT] Sen Schatz, Brian [HI] Sen Shaheen, Jeanne [NH] Sen Tester, Jon [MT]

House (39):

Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] Rep Chu, Judy [CA-27] Rep Cicilline, David N. [RI-1] Rep Connolly, Gerald E. [VA-11] Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-13] Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4] Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-18] Rep Gabbard, Tulsi [HI-2] Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-3] Rep Himes, James A. [CT-4] Rep Holt, Rush [NJ-12] Rep Huffman, Jared [CA-2] Rep Kuster, Ann M. [NH-2] Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-13] Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-19] Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-17] Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-2] Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] Rep Miller, George [CA-11] Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-10] Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-32] Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] Rep O’Rourke, Beto [TX-16] Rep Payne, Donald M., Jr. [NJ-10] Rep Pingree, Chellie [ME-1] Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] Rep Schiff, Adam B. [CA-28] Rep Shea-Porter, Carol [NH-1] Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [NY-25] Rep Speier, Jackie [CA-14] Rep Titus, Dina [NV-1] Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-43] Rep Welch, Peter [VT] Rep Young, Don [AK]

To view the Senate version of the bill, click here.

To view the House version of the bill, click here.