Representatives Pompeo and Butterfield Introduce Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act; House Ag Committee Holds GMO Labeling Hearing
On Wednesday, H.R. 1599, The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, was introduced in the House by Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) and G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) along with 12 Republican and 7 Democratic co-sponsors. The legislation would create a national, science-based standard for the safety and labeling of food products containing genetically modified ingredients (GMOs). The bill is similar to one introduced in the last Congress by Messrs. Pompeo and Butterfield, but includes provisions establishing a voluntary non-GMO certification program overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“This legislation is vital to giving both farmers and consumers the certainty they deserve when it comes to labeling of food containing GMO ingredients. At the same time, it would preserve choices in the marketplace for both groups,” said NCFC President Chuck Conner. “I would like to thank both Congressman Pompeo and Congressman Butterfield for their leadership on this issue. I look forward to working with them, as well as other members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the House Agriculture Committee, as the process moves forward.”
With more states considering legislation to implement mandatory labeling at the state level, much like Vermont did last year, the resulting patchwork of regulations threatens to upend America’s food supply chain and raise grocery costs for the average family of four by $500 a year, according to a Cornell University study conducted with New York state consumers.
The bill would set a new, voluntary federal framework allowing food manufacturers to label products made without GMO ingredients and would codify a mandatory review of all new biotechnology crops entering the marketplace.
NCFC is a member of The Coalition for Safe Affordable Food, which is dedicated to providing policy makers, media, consumers and all stakeholders with the facts about ingredients grown through GM technology. For more information on the coalition and issue, visit their website at www.CFSAF.org.
On Tuesday, prior to the bill introduction, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to examine possible impacts of a patchwork state approach to the labeling of foods containing GMO ingredients. Among the panel of witnesses testifying before the committee were Chris Policinski, CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc., and Joanna Lidback, a Vermont dairy farmer who is a member of Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative and who testified on behalf of NCFC and the National Milk Producers Federation.
Ways and Means Committee Approves Estate Tax Repeal
On a party line vote of 22-10, the House Ways and Means Committee on March 25 approved a bill to repeal the estate tax. H.R. 1105, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, is sponsored by Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.). NCFC joined other agriculture organizations this week in signing a letter of support for H.R. 1105. A vote by the House is expected in April. Senate Finance Committee member John Thune (R-S.D.) introduced an estate tax repeal bill on March 25 but action by the full Senate is uncertain. President Obama has said he will not support legislation to repeal the tax.
Senate Ag Committee Holds Hearing on Waters of the U.S. Rule; Budget Resolution Amendment Shows Strong Support for Fixing Rule
On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing to examine the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed rule to redefine the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. It was clear from the questions and comments that many senators have very strong concerns with the proposed rule; this was particularly apparent with several of the Democrats in attendance.
The hearing was held ahead of votes on two amendments related to the WOTUS rule that were considered as part of the Senate budget resolution debate. Though the amendments were made to a nonbinding resolution (and thus will not be signed into law), they did show bipartisan concern over the EPA’s actions. The first amendment was offered by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and simply reiterated the importance of protecting watersheds and maintaining existing exemptions for agriculture; it passed 99-0.
The second amendment, offered by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), was seen as more of a referendum on the rule itself. It aimed to ensure that the Clean Water Act is “focused on water quality” and provided areas for limiting federal authority. The vote for the amendment was 59-40, with five Democrats and one independent, who caucuses with Democrats, voting yes. This is significant since, with the addition of one Republican senator who was not present for the vote, it appears that proponents of rolling back the rule are near the 60 vote threshold necessary to invoke cloture on the Senate floor.
As you know, the Administration’s proposal would dramatically expand the regulatory reach of the federal government over ponds, intermittent or ephemeral water courses, and drainage ditches on thousands of farms and ranches across the country. NCFC and other farm groups have strenuously opposed the proposal and urged EPA and the Corps to withdraw and redraft the rule.
House and Senate Approve Budget Resolutions
Both the House and Senate finished worked this week on their FY 2016 budget resolutions. The House on Wednesday voted to approve its budget (H.Con.Res. 27) on a vote of 228 to 199. The budget contains reconciliation instructions to the House Agriculture Committee, requiring the committee to reduce spending under its jurisdiction by about $1 billion over ten years; the committee must report its proposed savings to the Budget Committee by mid-July.
The Senate budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 11) was approved early Friday morning by a vote of 52 to 46. As noted in the article above, two amendments related to the EPA’s “waters of the U.S.” rule were accepted; several amendments that would have harmed the federal crop insurance system and an amendment to dismantle the sugar program were offered but not ultimately considered. The Senate budget contains no reconciliation instructions for the agriculture committee.
With different spending levels outlined by the House and Senate budgets, conference committee negotiators are expected to meet after the Easter recess in an attempt to resolve the issue. It is unknown whether they can reach an agreement and, if so, what level of spending cuts might be required from the agriculture committees.
Upcoming Events:
- Cotton Committee—April 22-23, 2015—Washington, D.C.
- Spring Executive Council Meeting—April 23-24, 2015—Washington, D.C.
- NCFC Washington Conference—June 22-24, 2015—Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
- LTA Subcommittee Chairs-Vice Chairs Meeting—September 23-25, 2015—The Edgewater, Seattle, WA
- Fall Executive Council Meeting—September 30 & October 1, 2015—Washington, DC
- Human Resources Conference—October 22-23—Sheraton Chicago O’Hare
- Government Affairs Meeting—November 11-13—TBD