Senators failed to invoke cloture on a bill on a labeling system for GMOs in a 48-49 vote on March 16.
The bill was supported by the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) as a way to prevent a patchwork of laws throughout the country that will start with Vermont in July.
“To say we are angry with those senators who abandoned farmers and ranchers and turned their backs on rural America on this vote is an understatement,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. “Their votes opposing this measure ignored science, threw our nation’s food system into disarray and undermined the public’s understanding of the many benefits of biotechnology in feeding a growing and hungry population.”
Duvall said the next step for the voluntary labeling system are unclear. He is hopeful, however, that Congress will re-address the situation soon in order to prevent a rise in food costs.
ALFA Director of National Legislative Programs Mitt Walker expressed his thanks to Alabama Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions for supporting the vote for cloture.
“We appreciate Sen. Shelby and Sen. Sessions voting to suspend debate on this bill," Walker said. "Today’s vote demonstrates their belief in a market-driven approach to GMO labeling that ensures the interests of farmers, food companies and consumers are all considered."
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