With the Senate passing its version of the GMO Disclosure Bill late last week, this week more than 1,100 ag and food industry organizations, representing the entire food chain – from farm to fork – are calling on the House for quick action on passing its version of the GMO labeling law. The collective sent a letter to House leadership calling on them to pass an agricultural biotech solution.

The letter, addressed to Speaker Ryan, Minority Leader Pelosi, Majority Leader McCarthy, and Minority Whip Hoyer, calls for expedited consideration and the scheduling of floor time this week to ensure this bipartisan proposal receives passage before Congress adjourns for the summer recess.

“The issue of biotech disclosure is one of the most significant issues that the agriculture and food industry has faced in recent years. The U.S. agriculture and food industry creates over 17 million jobs, representing nearly 1 in 10 jobs,” the letter states. “This very system—which produces the most abundant, the highest quality, and the most affordable food in the world—will be threatened with large economic costs without a national uniform solution on this issue…. We strongly support S. 764 and ask that you schedule floor time and provide expedited consideration of this important and timely legislation. We pledge to work with Members on both sides of the aisle to ensure quick passage of this bipartisan proposal.”

The letter stresses that the urgently needed legislation would prevent a costly patchwork of state labeling laws, the first which went into effect in Vermont on July 1, 2016, that directly impact American family farmers, small businesses and consumers, while providing shoppers access to more product information than ever before. Unless the House acts this week, says the collective organizations, consumers, farmers and businesses in other states could feel the consequences of lost sales in Vermont, which ultimately could lead to lost jobs.