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Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski has apologized for the infamous Biotech rider that US President Barack Obama recently signed in support of Monsanto et al.
The statement released Saturday states “Senator Mikulski understands the anger over this provision. She didn’t put the language in the bill and doesn’t support it either.
“It was originally part of the Agriculture Appropriations bill that the House Appropriations Committee reported in June 2012, and it became part of the joint House-Senate agreement completed in the Fall of 2012 before Senator Mikulski became Appropriations Chairwoman.
“That agreement was not reopened when the Agriculture bill and several others were included in the Continuing Appropriations Act to prevent a government shutdown.
“Senator Mikulski has a strong food safety record. She has supported a bill requiring labeling of genetically engineered fish, an amendment to the Farm Bill that allows states to require labeling of edible foods and beverages for sale that contain genetically engineered ingredients, and called for labeling of cloned animals or their progeny.
“As Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski’s first responsibility was to prevent a government shutdown. That meant she had to compromise on many of her own priorities to get a bill through the Senate that the House would pass. She will continue to fight for a regular and timely Appropriations process and other valuable priorities, including food safety.”
The biotech rider – being referred to as the “Monsanto rider” and the “Monsanto Protection Act”– undermines the federal courts’ ability to safeguard farmers and the environment from unlawfully approved, potentially hazardous GM crops. Moreover, the rider represents an unprecedented attack on U.S. judicial review of agency actions and is a major violation of the separation of powers, an essential element of U.S. constitutional governance and law.
Going into effect March 28th, the rider will only be law for the 6-month life of the bill. The Senate and House are expected to take up FY2014 appropriations bills in the coming months. Senators Tester, Boxer, Gillibrand, Leahy, Begich and Blumenthal have all spoken out against the rider and offered an amendment to strike the rider from the Senate CR. Despite receiving calls and emails from hundreds of thousands of citizens opposing the industry-driven rider and supporting the amendment to strike it, the amendment was ultimately never voted on.
Sustainable Pulse will continue to attack the Monsanto rider over the next 6 months by every means possible! Like Us on Facebook to follow our battle.
Sorry, but that’s just not good enough. It’s a bunch of crap. Kill it NOW. You’ve just given Monsanto at the minimum 6 months to do WHATEVER they want. And I can’t believe for ONE MINUTE that the people that signed that bill had no idea. The people of the United States have been slapped in the face by the very people they elected to protect them from this kind of thing. It’s apparent to me that money in your pocket is much more important to you than the lives of the people of this country. As one said, if it were another country doing this to our food supply we’d be at war. Unforgivable.
So, when Senator Tester and 5 other Senators proposed to amend the CR and remove Section 735, where was she? She did not support removing it. And just for the record, section 735 has nothing to do with critical Federal government spending, it’s legislative, protecting bio-tech from any judicial review and further de-regulates dangerous growth of genetically modified crops, which is poisonous transgenic pollution. So again, where was she when Sen. Tester proposed to remove the dangerous rider, why did she not support removing it?
Sorry Senator but your apology isn’t good enough. With the rest of the world realizing how important it is to protect their citizens from GMO/GE/Monsanto products we here in the United States seem to ignore the problem. It is ludicrous that We The People have to fight for labeling and a safe food supply…and, that is has become against the law to consume the food we grow in our gardens. As a daughter of these United States I am totally dismayed at the lack of responsibility our government takes to ensure the safety of all Americans and the world when it comes to our food supply. It is outrageous that our President and all of Our Representatives in both houses, would pass this Bill while The First Lady plants veggie gardens on the grounds of the White House. Which message is being sent to The People I ask. So Senator, DO SOMETHING..this can’t wait. And, as my Grandmother said “Actions speak louder than words.”
What I want to know is who was the sneak who put this in the bill????? They should not be reelected or if they are a paid federal employee they should be let go as they as under handed and do not have the well being of the people in mind only what they can stick in their pocket.
Apologies, shmologies. When someone commits a crime, saying “Oops! Sorry about that” just doesn’t cut it. Do you let convicted killers off just because they say they’re sorry? Nope. Not good enough. Only a repeal will do.
An apology does not cut it. This needs to be rescinded immediately. The fact that this went through just goes to show what a VERY SAD STATE the government of the US is in, all parties included.
Senator Mikulski should find out who wrote the Monsanto Rider in the first place, and then let all of us know.
I agree with this. If the senator isn’t accountable… then who is?
Sen. Roy Blunt (R. MO) put it in!
Let the blowback begin!!
Does anyone know where to find a list of those reps that voted for this with the rider intact? I agree– too little, too late. I don’t want her apology or anyone elses.
Washington is all but useless to the American People. We have the most corrupt Congress imaginable and as a Democrat (or former Democrat), I am deeply disappointed in the Obama Administration on so many levels.
Dems: maybe it’s best not to send the DNC money; make ’em earn it.
Well I usually don’t do anything sexist in nature but I am very angry about this so here goes. Senator, you really have your tits in the ringer this time! Stooooopid!
The section of this bill is ridiculous, but, you can’t just blame one person who claims she didn’t attach the rider to the bill. Where is the outrage toward the other 50 dems and 20 repubs in the Senate or the 115 dems and 203 repubs in the House who voted for this bill? This was a bi-partisan screwing. Be fair and blame everyone who voted for it.
i can see why it was hid in this bill for sure passing but this 6 months can sure mean a difference with people being exposed to more gmos
what’s in it for Blunt?
Monsanto is based in Blunt’s home state of MO.
Take that appropriate measure NOW, apology is not good enough. We need action not sorry! If that rider is allowed for 6 months the toll it can take on our food supply, crops and farmers could be devastating. You knew about this but still did not take action. You say you are against this and for the people, well Senator I will tell you that action speak clearly louder than your words. If this is the kind of senate in office I say we need replacements and if Blunt was the source for this then he needs to be replaced period.