Monsanto Protection Act Removed From Senate CR

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz released the following statement on the elimination of what is known as the "Monsanto Protection Act" from the Senate version of the short-term appropriations bill, the Continuing Resolution.

"The Monsanto Protection Act is bad policy for the country and the State of Hawai"i," said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz. "The Senate version of the Continuing Resolution does not include this provision, effectively repealing the Monsanto Protection Act. This provision took the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture to fully exercise his regulatory power over GMOs, and compromised the role of our courts as a check on the legislative and executive systems, making it significantly more difficult for concerned citizens to present their case.

"I strongly urge the House not to sneak the Monsanto Protection Act back into the final version of the appropriations bill. However, if it is slipped back in, rather than letting the issue be deliberated with full transparency and public input, I will immediately introduce legislation to repeal it."

U.S. Senator Jon Tester from Montana led the charge in getting the Senate to remove the Monsanto Protection Act from the Continuing Resolution.

"Stripping the Monsanto Protection Act is a victory for American consumers and family farm agriculture," said U.S. Senator Jon Tester. "Corporate giveaways have no business in a bill to fund the government, and I'm pleased that the Senate stood up for accountability and transparency and against special interests. I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Schatz to make sure that this damaging provision never again makes it into law."

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