Senator John Kerry
304 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
Senator Scott Brown
200 Reservoir Street,
Dear Senator,
I am writing you to express my serious concerns about genetically engineered (GE) fish and to ask you to support legislation banning the approval of GE salmon, and requiring mandatory labeling should they be approved (S. 230/H.R. 521 and S. 229/H.R. 520).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on August 25, 2010, that it will potentially approve a transgenic salmon as the first genetically engineered (GE) animal intended for human consumption. In response, nearly 400,000 public comments were sent to FDA from citizens demanding the agency reject this application and require mandatory labeling should it decide to approve it. Additionally, over 300 environmental, consumer, health, and animal welfare organizations, along with salmon and fishing groups and associations, food companies, chefs and restaurants signed joint letters to the FDA opposing approval of the GE salmon.
FDA's decision to go ahead with this approval is misguided and dangerous. It is time for Congress to take action. Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) recently introduced bipartisan legislation in Congress that would ban GE fish (S. 230/H.R. 521) and require mandatory labeling for consumers if approved (S. 229/H.R. 520).
The legislation has been endorsed by 64 consumer, worker, religious and environmental groups, along with commercial, recreational and subsistence fisheries associations, and food businesses and retailers. Those groups include the Center for Food Safety, Ocean Conservancy, Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development, the Alaska Trollers Association, Food and Water Watch, the National Cooperative Grocers Association and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations among others.
Please protect fishers, consumers and the environment by co-sponsoring S. 230/H.R. 521 and S. 229/H.R. 520.
Sincerely,
Name__________________________________Signature_______________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________
Phone________________________________e-mail___________________________________