May 17, 2010

Update: Senate May Incorporate Waxman FTC Language in S. 3217

Two weeks ago, we reported on Congressman Waxman’s successful inclusion of language in a Wall Street Reform bill (H.R. 4173) that endangers your access to dietary supplements. To read about this language and how it would affect your rights, click here.

Now, the Senate is in the process of drafting its companion bill, the Restoring American Fiscal Stability Act of 2010 (S. 3217). This bring us one step closer to such a bill becoming law, and we must be extremely vigilant so as not to allow Waxman’s FTC language to be included in the final version signed by the President.

The best way to make sure this does not happen is to focus our attention on the Senate bill, making sure such FTC language is not present. If we can keep the language out of the Senate bill, it will most likely be dropped from the House version so the two can be quickly reconciled and signed into law.

According to recent reports, an effort was recently thwarted to have such FTC language included in the Senate bill before it had even hit the floor for discussion. Senator Rockefeller (D–WV) reportedly attempted to convince Senator Dodd (D–CT) to include the Waxman FTC language in committee. Senator Dodd was said to have refused the request, citing that the FTC language was “too controversial” for him to include.

This means that all your efforts, calls, and letters to your Senators urging them to abandon this FTC language was heard. Senators like Dodd are always swayed by vocal public opinion, and rarely will they push highly unpopular amendments if it means they will face a backlash at home.

So whether you have already contacted your Senator to oppose this FTC language or not, please take a moment to reach out and make your opinion known. It is only by being vocal participants in our government that we can ever hope to steer it in the right direction!