Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts remains determined to pass a voluntary GMO labeling bill in time to block a Vermont law from taking effect. Roberts said recently that agriculture groups should pressure U.S. Senate Democrats who represent agriculture to support his voluntary GMO labeling measure. While Agriculture Committee Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow does not support the voluntary measure, the wildcard in the negotiations could be if Roberts can get enough farm state Democrats to sign on to his bill. Three of those Democrats supported his voluntary GMO labeling bill that failed in the Senate last month, Senators Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Tom Carper of Delaware, and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. The bill needs to clear a 60-vote threshold for consideration on the Senate floor. The Vermont law, meanwhile, goes into effect in less than 80 days.
Source: NAFB News Service