I signed a petition recently regarding a bill that would block states rights to make decisions regarding GMO labeling and place it totally in control at the Fed level. I got a reply today from one of the two reps I addressed. First is my reply to that, followed by her letter to me. We need to hound these reps of ours... or they will keep blindly listening to the candy coated versions of shit coming across their desktops. I know this is long, but I hope you will take the time to read. Dear Congresswoman Castor: Thank you for your timely reply, however I still have a lot of deep concerns that I feel are not being investigated or addressed well enough. If I am not mistaken, the safety testing of GM food is being done by the very companies who stand to profit from them. Also, the length of time for testing is not sufficient to adequately test long term effects. Independent lab studies are finding horrific results by 3rd generation of rats fed GM food. Birth defects, massive tumors, sterility... as well as other problems. We as humans are only in our second generation of eating these foods. I do not think I need to remind you of the hands in each others pockets syndrome going on between corporations and many government agencies. There are former Monsanto executives and attorneys serving in key positions on the government side now. Coincidence? Everyone knows it is happening on a pretty large scale. This bill, if passed, will put complete control in the hands of those corporations and agencies, taking away states rights to make decisions on their own about labeling. If that happens, the fight is over, completely over. You seem to like the idea of the benefits of crops being sprayed with weed killers without harming the crops. Is that truly beneficial? Now the foods are absorbing those chemicals which in turn, we eat. Also take a look at the modified foods designed to produce their own pesticides from within, designed to explode the gut of pests trying to eat them. Testing or no testing, I fail to see even remotely how that can be healthy for humans. These processes are also creating larger problems in the environment. Corn farmers are experiencing root worms that are becoming resistant and are becoming even more of a problem than they were in the first place. Bees and butterflies are dying in unprecedented numbers. Without our pollinators, all life on earth will have a 5 year expiration date. It is time to truly put these profit hungry corporations in check. We the people can yell, scream and protest all day every day, but without a team effort coming from those who have more power than the rest of us, our efforts are basically futile. I hope you will give careful consideration to the points I have just brought up. There are more, but I think this is a good start. The correspondence you replied to was a canned petition letter. Now, you have some of my personal considerations to ponder, and I hope you will. This affects you and your loved ones too. Respectfully, Janet Spence Dear Ms. Spence, Thank you for sharing your concerns with me regarding genetically modified foods. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views with me. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has oversight under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to ensure the safety of all domestic and imported foods in the United States market, except meat, poultry and egg products, which are regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In recent years, new technologies have been developed for genetically modifying foods in the hope of eradicating some of our greatest challenges. For example, innovations might allow scientists to manipulate common crops like corn and potatoes so that farmers can spray weed killer without hurting the crops. Other genetic modifications have been used to lower production costs while increasing crop yields. However, experts agree that there are significant risks, both known and unknown. While I recognize the benefits of some GE crops, I believe it is crucial that we make sure they are safe. Currently, courts have the ability to prevent the transportation or planting GE seeds while their safety is being litigated. I believe that judicial mechanism is important because it gives the courts an opportunity to prevent irreparable harm. Without that ability, GE crops found to be harmful would already be distributed or planted, and it could be harder to undo the impacts. Rest assured, I will keep your thoughts in mind as Congress reviews the current government funding bill, which includes the Monsanto Protect Act. I share your concerns about the health of our food supply. That is why in the last Congress I voted in favor of H.R.2749, the Food Safety Enhancement Act. This legislation strengthens safety standards in food facilities by requiring annual registration, contamination prevention measures and hazard planning. Currently, Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman Peter DeFazio introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act, legislation that would require the FDA to clearly label genetically engineered foods so that consumers can make informed choices about what they eat. This legislation has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health. As a member of this committee, I will be sure to keep your views in mind as my colleagues and I review this bill. Thank you again for writing me. I would like to invite you to visit my website at castor.house.gov/ for updates on issues important to you and your family. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I or my staff can be of any further assistance.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 21:31:38 +0000
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