HR Bill 1599, also known as the DARK ACT (Monsanto’s favorite bill that would effectively ruin the food supply and halt GMO labeling initiatives) has been stopped cold in Congress. After thousands of letters and activists railing against this dangerous legislation, no anti-GMO labeling provisions were allowed in the must-pass Omnibus spending bill.
What’s even better? A provision requires the FDA to develop labeling guidelines before it’s sold in America. Though Bill 1599 was titled the ‘Safe and Accurate Labeling Act,’ it is nothing short of a way for Monsanto and Big Food companies to keep Americans from observing their democratic right to know if their food contained genetically modified ingredients.
This bill would have also blocked states from having their own laws which would either force GM labeling or GM bans, affecting Vermont, Connecticut and Maine, who have already passed such legislation. This is why Natural Society, along with numerous other organizations, launched separate petitions to halt the DARK act from moving forward.
This is a huge victory!
“We are very pleased that Congress has apparently decided not to undermine Americans’ right to know about the food the purchase and feed their families,” said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of Center for Food Safety. “Adding a rider to the budget bill that would nullify state laws requiring labeling and even forbidden federal agencies from mandating labeling would have been profoundly undemocratic and nothing short of legislative malfeasance. We will remain vigilant over the coming days and into the next legislative session to ensure our right to know is protected.”
Additional Sources:
So HR 1599 is dead? How does a budget deal kill a proposed HR bill? I really dont know can someone explain?
It was stripped from the bill before the bill was voted on.
Thank god.. .Now hopefully it stays buried in the Senate committee
It’s my understanding that when they couldn’t get the senate to pass the DARK act they tried to attach a similar voluntary QR scheme to block state’s rights to the omnibus and that is what didn’t happen.
You are correct, I believe they still plan to get HR1599 rammed thru when they get back in January.
HR 1599 also blocks local GMO bans passed, as well as the Maui vote for independent tests. It even prohibited Native tribe’s bans. Also it would likely end the non-gmo project depending on interpretation.
The traitors in congress who voted for it are listed here:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2015/roll462.xml
It is important to work to find electable alternatives to the sellouts and get them voted out.
Senator Stabenow is the main Demo working with RINOS to block state’s GMO regulation rights. The main Senate GMO servants are listed here:
http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/blog/2015/dec/11/stop-monsantos-gmo-trolls-senate
The revolving door is greased by hundreds of millions in campaign contributions and it will be working quickly to pass HR1599 when they get back in session. You know what they say about eternal vigilance…
It looks like it was attached to the budget bill, they just removed it before passing.
I really don’t think they intended to run it through anyways, otherwise it would have and passed.