Because of your messages to Congress, the scheduled March 2nd vote on H.R. 4167 has been postponed to next week. This bill would gut state food safety and labeling laws, endangering the food you eat. H.R. 4167, the "National Uniformity for Food Act," lowers the bar on food safety by overturning state food safety laws that are not "identical" to federal law. Hundreds of state laws and regulations are at risk, including those governing the safety of milk and shellfish.
Local and state officials are now responsible for 80% of the nation's food safety enforcement. These officials regularly improve training, sanitation and labeling standards to address new food borne diseases and other dangers to our food supply whether natural or man made. H.R. 4167 puts a straitjacket on these front-line workers, who are most familiar with local needs.
Industry tried to push this through without even a hearing, but we pushed back! Next week they will try again and we need to increase the pressure. Act now! Protect yourself and others from unsafe food by writing your Representative and urging them to vote NO on H.R. 4167.
Dear Representative,
I am writing to express my concern over H.R. 4167, the "National Uniformity for Food Act" and urge you to oppose it when it comes up for a vote. In the name of "uniformity," the bill would overturn state food safety and labeling laws that are not "identical" to federal law. In fact, more than 100 state laws and regulations would be voided by this bill.
This bill would lower food safety protections to the least common denominator. Laws in jeopardy range from those that insure that milk is not adulterated, to California's Proposition 65, which requires labels on foods that contain substances that cause cancer or reproductive problems.
I believe the bill is dangerous on many fronts. H.R. 4167 ignores the basic reality that local and state food safety officials are closer to communities than their counterparts in Washington, DC, and can react faster and more expeditiously. If this bill passes, they would lose their authority to remove dangerous food from the marketplace.
Every day across the U.S., state and local health departments perform hundreds of food safety jobs, from inspecting local restaurants, to ensuring the safety of shellfish and the quality of Grade A milk.
I urge you to act for the safety and well-being of American consumers: vote NO on H.R. 4167.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
