News Update From The Campaign to Label Genetically Engineered Foods
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    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
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