Press Releases

Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat and Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Nutrition Subcommittee, spoke on the House floor to urge his colleagues to reject H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, a bill which keeps Americans in the dark about which foods contain GMOs.  Watch 2 minute video here.

Excerpts from Congressman McGovern’s floor speech today:

“Poll after poll shows that an overwhelming majority of the American people favor mandatory GMO labeling. They want to know what’s in the food they eat and how it’s grown. We should give them what they want.

“Yet, the bill before us goes in the opposite direction. It keeps the American people in the dark about whether their food contains GMOs.

“64 countries already have GMO labeling. Why can’t we? American food companies already have to label their foods as containing GMOs when they sell them in those countries. Why can’t American consumers have access to that same information?

“Keeping consumers in the dark about what’s in their food is the wrong approach. It is a ‘Washington Knows Best’ approach from politicians inside the beltway who think they know better than the American people. I urge my colleagues to vote ‘no’ on H.R. 1599.”

The full text of Congressman McGovern’s floor speech is below. Watch 2 minute video here.

As Prepared For Delivery:

“I have an idea. It’s a radical idea. It’s something that is unprecedented for this Congress. Something that would genuinely surprise the American people.

“And that idea is simple – let’s give the American people what they want.

“Poll after poll shows that an overwhelming majority of the American people favor mandatory GMO labeling. People want to know what’s in the food they eat and how it’s grown. We should give them what they want.

“Yet, the bill before us goes in the opposite direction. It keeps the American people in the dark about whether their food contains GMOs. No wonder Congress is so unpopular.

“To the supporters of this “Keep Americans in the Dark” bill – I would ask one simple question: What are you afraid of?

“This debate is not about whether GMOs are good or bad. I consume GMOs. My kids consume GMOs. This is about consumers’ right to know what’s in the food they eat. Plain and simple.

“As many of my colleagues know, I am passionate about ending hunger both here in this country and around the world. If I thought for one second that GMO labeling would cause food prices to rise, I wouldn't be calling for GMO labeling. This is a scare tactic used by opponents of GMO labeling.

“The fact is, companies change their labels all the time for all kinds of reasons. Transportation and commodity prices are drivers of food prices, not labeling. 

“If you’re worried about 50 states requiring 50 different labels, then support mandatory GMO labeling. Do not override states that have already embraced GMO labeling or consumers who want them.

“There are 64 countries already have GMO labeling. Why can’t we? American food companies already have to label their foods as containing GMOs when they sell them in those countries. Why can’t American consumers have access to that same information.

“Keeping consumers in the dark about what’s in their food is the wrong approach. It is a ‘Washington Knows Best’ approach from politicians inside the beltway who think they know better than the American people. I urge my colleagues to vote ‘no’ on H.R. 1599.”

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