News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear News Update Subscribers, Representative Dennis Kucinich will soon introduce the Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act of 2003 before the U.S. House of Representatives. The food labeling legislation is one of six bills that are designed to effectively regulate genetically engineered food that Representative Kucinich is preparing to introduce. If you go to the following web page you can send an instant e-mail to your House Representative asking him or her to co-sponsor these bills: http://www.thecampaign.org/alert-house.php You are also encouraged to print out our form letter and mail it to your House Representative. Letters sent by U.S. mail get much more attention than e-mail. We suggest you both e-mail and send a letter by U.S. mail to your House Representative for maximum impact. STRATEGY FOR PASSING U.S. LABELING LEGISLATION Now that the Europeans have their new mandatory labeling legislation, it is time for us to get ours passed in the United States. Polls consistently show that the vast majority of U.S. citizens -- 80 to 93 percent -- want mandatory labeling on genetically engineered foods. Our job is to get that message heard by our elected officials in Washington, DC. As you know, members of the U.S. Congress are elected by the citizens of their legislative districts and states. Since we elect them, they are supposed to primarily represent us, not the special interests of large corporations. However, if members of Congress do not hear from the people who elect them, they will often listen to corporate interests that frequently provide large donations to their campaigns for re-election. The good news is that if voters let their opinions be heard, most members of Congress will go along with their desires. THE NUMBER ONE REASON WE HEAR FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON WHY THEY HAVE NOT SUPPORTED LABELING LEGISLATION ON GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS IS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT IT BY ENOUGH VOTERS IN THEIR DISTRICT OR STATE. Erin E. Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] www.iowa.sierraclub.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]