With the elections behind us, Congress has returned to Washington, D.C. to get back to work on a number of pressing issues, including the 2013 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, a.k.a The Farm Bill. Unfortunately, still on the table is a troubling biotech policy rider. Though wrapped in a “farmer-friendly” package, the Monsanto Rider (section 733), would allow for the continued planting of genetically engineered (GE) crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally.
In response, Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) has authored a “Dear Colleague” letter opposing the biotech rider and urging his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join him. Please tell your Representative to support Representative DeFazio’s Dear Colleague letter opposing the biotech rider and ask your Senators to urge Senate Appropriations Chairman Inouye to oppose the rider!
This “farmer assurance provision” undermines the USDA’s oversight of GE crops, interferes with the U.S. Judicial review process, and could be unconstitutional. It is also completely unnecessary and serves only to offer “assurance” to biotech companies like Monsanto, not family farmers and ranchers.
By forcing the USDA to immediately grant temporary permits for continued planting and commercialization of GE crops, industry has created loopholes tailored on their behalf to counter any “inconvenient” court decisions. Even if a Federal court rules the USDA didn’t fully consider the environmental or economic risks to farmers, this rider would override any court-mandated cautions.
There is only a short period of time for Congress to resolve the Farm Bill before the end of the lame duck session. Please tell your Representative to sign on in support of Representative DeFazio’s Dear Colleague letter today! Your direct action will add to our collective voice standing up for the family farmer, rancher and consumers.