[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 5796]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              GMO LABELING

  (Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight an issue that's 
very important to me, to my constituents in Hawaii, as well as to 
people all across the country.
  I've long been a supporter of requiring labeling for food containing 
genetically engineered, or GE, products. Food is a basic necessity in 
our everyday lives, and people have a right to know what's in the food 
we're eating.
  Today I'm joining a strong coalition, led by Senator Boxer and 
Congressman DeFazio, to introduce the Genetically Engineered Food 
Right-to-Know Act, which requires labeling of GE foods.
  The Food and Drug Administration already requires labeling of more 
than 3,000 ingredients, additives, and processes, but it has resisted 
labels for GE foods. Changing this outdated policy would simply add GE 
foods to that robust list, which would not be cost prohibitive for 
companies or consumers.
  More than 1.5 million Americans have filed comments with the FDA 
urging it to label GE foods, while surveys show more than 90 percent of 
people also support it.
  Our legislation puts consumers first and empowers them to make 
informed choices for themselves and their families.

                          ____________________