TELL CONGRESS TO DROP THE MONSANTO RIDER
Congress has returned to Washington, D.C. to work on a number of pressing issues, including an omnibus 2013 Appropriations Bill. Unfortunately, a dangerous biotech policy rider is still on the table. The provision (section 733) is intended to force the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deregulate and grant temporary permits to genetically engineered (GE) crops even if a federal court rules that the USDA hasn’t adequately considered the environmental or economic risks.
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATORS TODAY!
There is only a short period of time for Congress to dump the Monsanto Rider from a lame duck Appropriations Bill -- email your Representative and both Senators today!
Though wrapped in a "farmer-friendly" package, this biotech rider will allow GE crops to continue to be planted even when a court of law has found they were
approved illegally
This biotech rider would
- negate any meaningful judicial review
- override any court-mandated caution
Furthermore, under this provision, if industry requests permit approval of a GE crop the USDA will be forced to approve such permits. Essentially,
- this creates a loophole that allows the industry to take charge over regulators
In response, Representative Peter DeFazio (OR) has authored a “Dear Colleague” letter opposing the biotech rider and urging his colleagues in the House 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 (HI) to oppose the rider!
posted Dec 5, 2012
OEFFA
TELL CONGRESS TO DROP THE MONSANTO RIDER
MacKenzie, Congress has returned to Washington, D.C. to work on a number of pressing issues, including an omnibus 2013 Appropriations Bill. Unfortunately, a dangerous biotech policy rider is still on the table. The provision (section 733) is intended to force the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deregulate and grant temporary permits to genetically engineered (GE) crops even if a federal court rules that the USDA hasn’t adequately considered the environmental or economic risks.
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATORS TODAY!
There is only a short period of time for Congress to dump the Monsanto Rider from a lame duck Appropriations Bill -- email your Representative and both Senators today!
Though wrapped in a "farmer-friendly" package, this biotech rider will allow GE crops to continue to be planted even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally.
This biotech rider would negate any meaningful judicial review of the USDA’s decisions on GE crops. In other words, if a GE crop approval was shown to violate the law and require further analysis of its harmful impacts (as several courts have concluded in recent years) this provision would override any court-mandated caution and allow continued planting and commercialization while further review takes place.
Furthermore, under this provision, if industry requests permit approval of a GE crop the USDA will be forced to approve such permits. Essentially, this creates a loophole that allows the industry to take charge over regulators.
In response, Representative Peter DeFazio (OR) has authored a “Dear Colleague” letter opposing the biotech rider and urging his colleagues in the House 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 (HI) to oppose the rider!
posted Dec 5, 2012
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The Ohio Environmental Council
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The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
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http://sustainableagriculture.net/take-action/advocacy-toolkit/
The League of Conservation Voters
The League of Conservation Voters compiles a yearly environmental scorecard ranking Congress based on their votes on key environmental bills.
Sustainable Table
Sustainable Table’s website offers a wealth of ideas for promoting sustainable food. Their website contains hand outs and questions to ask grocery stores and restaurants to convince them to purchase local products, and ideas and materials for promoting sustainable food through blogs, social networking sites, stickers, fliers, posters, and more. They also offer several presentation kits on such topics as sustainable food and factory farms, which include ready-made speeches, table materials, hand outs, and more.
Ohio Legislative Service Commission
The Ohio Legislative Service Commission has compiled a “Guidebook for Ohio Legislators,” which provides an in-depth summary the Ohio lawmaking process and provides other information about state government.
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association
41 Croswell Rd.
Columbus OH 43214
Phone: 614.421.2022 Fax: 614.421.2011
