Senate Voluntary GMO Labeling Bill Expected This Fall

Senate Voluntary GMO Labeling Bill Expected This Fall

A Senate voluntary GMO labeling bill could be ready in September, following House approval of a voluntary labeling bill earlier this month. North Dakota republican senator John Hoeven is crafting the bill, and trying to get democrats on board to pass voluntary labeling in the senate.
Hoeven: “We’re trying to find something that is bi-partisan and a good solution but at this time it is still a work-in-progress. We will look at the House bill but we are still working on this side on exactly how to approach it.”
The house passed GMO voluntary labeling by 275-190  with 45-democratic ‘yes’ votes, after turning back democrat amendments to weaken or gut the bill.  House republicans argued mandatory state labeling laws upend interstate commerce and GMO labels scare consumers. Democrats argued consumers have a right to know what’s in their food. Hoeven adds:
Hoeven: “There is a clear recognition that you can’t have 50 different state programs that doesn’t work. So what is the right approach, the right solution in the Senate that will get the bi-partisan support. Remember we need to get to 60 votes so that is what we are working on.”
Hoeven doesn’t expect a two-party consensus on a senate bill too soon. He says it will likely happen after the summer break, in September. But Hoeven agrees, support by almost 4-dozen democrats for the House version should help gain democratic support in the senate for voluntary over mandatory GMO labeling.

 

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