Simply Politics & News

[sarals]

food safety...

<< whatever happened to letting states make their own decisions? states rights... oh yeah, when profits of big business is on the line, it all goes out the window >>

Dear Friend:

I recently joined United States Senator Dianne Feinstein at an event to highlight our opposition to H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Foods Act, which poses a direct threat to California’s food safety and consumer right-to-know protections, including Proposition 65. H.R. 4167 would roll back essential food safety laws and preempt state and local authorities from enacting food safety regulations stronger than those required by the federal government.

Californians passed Prop 65 in 1986 with 63 percent of the vote because they wanted to know if dangerous contaminants were in their food and drinking water, and they knew that such a law would encourage food manufacturers to provide a safer product
-- because who wants to buy bottled water with an arsenic warning label?

For the past 20 years, this simple combination of consumer education and market forces has reduced exposure to dangerous substances in food throughout California. But now, California’s Prop 65 and other state food safety laws are under attack from special interests and their allies in Congress, who would rather keep consumers in the dark about dangerous contaminants in their food and water.

To help better inform the public and the press about the potential impact of this terrible bill, my staff has prepared a report detailing the impact of HR 4167 on California’s food safety regulations. This report provides information on California’s successful efforts over the past 20 years to address lead, arsenic, mercury, PCBs and other threats to the health and safety of Californians, including children. You can find the report on my Senate website at http://www.boxer.senate.gov/

There is widespread opposition to H.R. 4167, including numerous state, public health, scientific, labor, environmental and other public interest groups. Senator Feinstein and I are working hard to ensure that this legislation is defeated if it reaches the floor of the United States Senate.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator


from an email