July 21, 2015

Honorable Members of the U.S. House of Representatives:

We are writing on behalf of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food to urge your support for H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. At a time when legislative consensus is hard to come by, it is notable that substantial bipartisan support is building behind a national, voluntary food labeling standard for products containing ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Representatives Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) have introduced H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act — bipartisan legislation that will ensure food labeling in the United States is uniform and science-based.

Today interest groups across the country are pushing state-level labeling mandates that will exacerbate consumer confusion and drive up food prices. Instead of informing consumers, these state initiatives are filled with loopholes, exempting as much as two-thirds of foods. The result will be higher food prices for hard working American families – as much as $500 a year for a family of four, according to a study by Cornell University Professor William Lesseri.

By putting a stop to the patchwork of state-based labeling requirements, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will protect consumers from unpredictable price variations and protect farmers and food manufacturers from having to contend with inconsistent and costly regulations.

GMOs have been an important part of our nation’s food supply for the past 20 years, and 70-80 percent of the foods people eat in the United States contain ingredients that have been genetically engineered. In addition, the leading health and regulatory bodies in the world, from the World Health Organization to the American Medical Association, have all concluded GMOs are safe.

H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act will give consumers, farmers, and small businesses certainty. The proposed legislation also would improve clarity for foods carrying a GMO-free label and provide uniform rules by creating a national certification program for foods that have been produced without bioengineering.

We encourage you to vote “Yes” on H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act as amended and as reported by the House Agriculture Committee on a voice vote. We believe that it is imperative that Congress pass a bipartisan bill this year to ensure people across our nation continue to have access to consistent science-based standards for food labeling.

Sincerely,

AACC International AgStar Financial Services, ACA AgriBank, FCB Alabama Agribusiness Council Agribusiness Association of Iowa Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. Agribusiness Association of Alabama Farmers Federation Agribusiness Council of Indiana Alabama Feed & Grain Association Agricultural Council of Arkansas Alabama Soybean and Corn Association Agricultural Council of California Alaska Farm Bureau Agricultural Retailers Association Amalgamated Sugar Company (ID, OR, WA) AgriGrowth American Agri-Women Agri-Mark, Inc. American Bakers Association

American Beverage Association California Canning Peach Association American Crystal Sugar Company California Farm Bureau American Farm Bureau Federation California Grain & Feed Association American Feed Industry Association California League of Food Processors American Frozen Food Institute California Life Sciences Association American Fruit and Vegetable Processors and Growers California Seed Association Coalition California-Nevada Beverage Association American Phytopathological Society Campbell Soup Company American Seed Trade Association Cargill Inc. American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists Caudill Seed Company, Inc. American Soybean Association Ceres Solutions, LLP American Sugarbeet Growers Association Chemistry Council of New Jersey Ameriflax Chemistry Industry Council of Illinois AMPI CHS Inc Arizona Beverage Association Co-Alliance LLP Arizona Bioindustry Association (AZBio) CoBank Arizona Cotton Growers Association Colorado Association of Distributors Arizona Farm Bureau Colorado Association of Wheat Growers Arkansas Beverage Association Colorado Beverage Association Arkansas Farm Bureau Colorado Bioscience Association Arkansas Seed Dealers Association Colorado Corn Growers Association Arkansas Soybean Association Colorado Dairy Farmers Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/AIA Colorado Farm Bureau Associated Industries of Florida Colorado Potato Legislative Association Associated Oregon Industries Colorado Seed Industry Association Barrel O’ Fun Snack Foods Colorado Sugarbeet Growers BASF Corporation Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey Bassett's Ice Cream ConAgra Foods, Inc. Bayer CropScience, LP Congressional Hunger Center Beet Sugar Development Foundation Connecticut Bioscience Growth Council Better Made Snack Foods, Inc. Cooperative Milk Producers Association Beverage Association of Corn Growers Association of North Carolina Big Horn Basin Beet Growers (WY) Corn Producers Association of Texas Big Horn County Sugar Beet Growers (MT) Corn Refiners Association Bimbo Bakeries, USA Council for Responsible Nutrition Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association CropLife America Biocom (CA) CURE – Connecticut United for Research Excellence BIOForward Dean Foods Company BioKansas Delaware Bio BioNJ Delaware Farm Bureau BioOhio Delaware-Maryland Agribusiness Association Bioscience Association of North Dakota Dow AgroSciences Biotechnology Industry Organization DSM Nutritional Products Blue Diamond Growers DuPont Bunge North America Inc. Elwyhee Beet Growers (ID) Calcot, Ltd. Empire State Potato Growers Inc. (NY) California Alfalfa and Forage Association Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association California Association of Wheat Growers Exotic Wildlife Association California Association of Winegrape Growers Far West Agribusiness Association California Beet Growers Farmers Cooperative Creamery

FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative Illinois Fertilzer and Chemical Association First District Association Illinois Manufacturers' Association Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association Illinois Retail Merchants Association Florida Beverage Association Illinois Seed Trade Association Florida Farm Bureau Illinois Soybean Association Florida Feed Association, Inc. Independent Bakers Association Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association Independent Professional Seed Association Florida Heartland Agricultural Coalition Indiana Chamber of Commerce Florida Highlands County Citrus Growers Association Indiana Corn Growers Association Florida Seed Association, Inc. Indiana Farm Bureau Food Industry Alliance of New York State Indiana Health Industry Forum Foremost Farms USA Indiana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association Fuller Seed and Supply Indiana Retail Council Furmano’s Indiana Seed Trade Association General Mills Inc. Indiana Soybean Alliance Georgia Agribusiness Council Indiana State Poultry Association Georgia Beverage Association Infant Nutrition Council of America Georgia Cattlemen's Association International Dairy Foods Association Georgia Chamber of Commerce International Foodservice Distributors Association Georgia Cotton Commission International Franchise Association Georgia Farm Bureau Iowa Association of Business and Industry Georgia Feed & Grain Iowa Corn Growers Association Georgia-Florida Soybean Association Iowa Farm Bureau Global Cold Chain Alliance Iowa Institute for Cooperatives Global Harvest Initiative Iowa Seed Association Grain and Feed Association of Illinois Iowa Soybean Association Grassland Oregon, Inc. IowaBio Great Plains Canola Association JoMar Seeds Grocery Manufacturers Association Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association Growers for Biotechnology Kansas Beverage Association GROWMARK, Inc Kansas Cooperative Council Harvey County Farm Bureau Kansas Corn Growers Association Hawaii Crop Improvement Association Kansas Farm Bureau Hoosier Beverage Association Kansas Grain & Feed Association Hormel Foods Kansas Soybean Association House-Autry Mills Keany Produce Company Idaho Eastern-Oregon Seed Association Kellogg Company Idaho Farm Bureau Kentucky Beverage Association Idaho Grain Producers Association Kentucky Corn Growers Association Idaho Grower Shippers Association Kentucky Farm Bureau Idaho Potato Commission Kentucky Life Science Council Idaho Soft Drink Association, Inc. Kentucky Soybean Association Idaho Sugar Beet Growers Kitchen Cooked, Inc. Idaho Technology Council Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc. Illinois Beef Association Land O'Lakes, Inc. Illinois Beverage Association Latham Hi-Tech Seeds Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization – iBIO ® LifeScience Alley Illinois Chamber of Commerce Louisiana Farm Bureau Illinois Corn Growers Association Louisiana Soybean Association Illinois Farm Bureau LouisianaBio

Maine Beverage Association Montana Agricultural Business Association Maine Potato Board Montana Beverage Association Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association Montana Grain Growers Association Maryland Farm Bureau Montana-Dakota Beet Growers (MT/ND) Maryland Grain Producers Association National Agricultural Aviation Association Massachusetts Beverage Association National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance Massachusetts Biotechnology Council National Association of Manufacturers McCormick & Company Inc. National Association of Wheat Growers MD/DC/DE Beverage Association National Barley Growers Association MD-DE Agribusiness Association National Confectioners Association MichBio National Corn Growers Association Michigan Agri-Business Association National Cotton Council Michigan Allied Poultry Industries National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Michigan Bean Commission National Fisheries Institute Michigan Corn Growers Association National Grain & Feed Association Michigan Farm Bureau National Grape Cooperative Association, Inc. Michigan Food and Beverage Association National Milk Producers Federation Michigan Manufacturers Association National Oilseed Processors Association Michigan Soft Drink Association National Potato Council Michigan Soybean Association National Restaurant Association Michigan Sugar Company National Seasoning Manufacturers Association Michigan Vegetable Council National Sorghum Producers Mid Kansas Cooperative Association National Turkey Federation Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association NEBCO Beet Growers (NE/CO) Midwest Forage Association Nebraska Cooperative Council Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative (MN/ND) Nebraska Corn Growers Association Minnesota AgriGrowth Council Nebraska Dry Bean Commission Minnesota Agri-Women Nebraska Farm Bureau Minnesota Beverage Association Nebraska Grain and Feed Association Minnesota Canola Council Nebraska Soybean Association Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Nebraska Sugarbeet Growers Minnesota Corn Growers Association Nestle Purina PetCare Company Minnesota Crop Production Retailers Nestlé USA Minnesota Farm Bureau Nevada Farm Bureau Minnesota Grain and Feed Association New England Biotech Association Minnesota Soybean Growers Association New Hampshire Farm Bureau Mississippi Biotechnology Association New Jersey Farm Bureau Mississippi Farm Bureau New Mexico Farm Bureau Mississippi Soybean Association New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association Missouri Agribusiness Association New York Farm Bureau Missouri Beverage Association New York State Agribusiness Association Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO) New York State Grange Missouri Corn Growers Association New York Turfgrass Association Missouri Dairy Association NewYorkBio Missouri Farm Bureau NORPAC Foods, Inc. Missouri Restaurant Association North American Millers Association Missouri Retailers Association North Carolina Agribusiness Council Missouri Soybean Association North Carolina Beverage Association Mondelez International North Carolina Bioscience Organization (NCBIO) Monsanto Company North Carolina Cotton Producers Association

North Carolina Farm Bureau Pet Food Institute North Carolina Potato Association Philadelphia Beverage Association North Carolina Soybean Producers Association Plains Cotton Cooperative Association North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. North Dakota Corn Growers Association Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc. North Dakota Farm Bureau Federation Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. North Dakota Grain Dealers Association Pretzels, Inc. North Dakota Soybean Growers Association Puerto Rico Bio Alliance/INDUNIV Northarvest Bean Growers Association Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers (ND/MN) Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance Retail Association of Nevada Northeast Dairy Foods Association Retailers Association of Massachusetts Northern Canola Growers Association Rhode Island Beverage Association Northern Great Plains Growers Association Rhode Island Farm Bureau Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold, Inc. Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association Northwest Food Processors Association Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. Northwest Grocery Association Rudolph Foods Nyssa-Nampa Sugarbeet Growers (ID/OR) Savor Seasonings, LLC Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. SC Fertilizer & AgriChemicals Association AgriBusiness Association SCBIO Ohio Chamber of Commerce Seedway, LLC Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association Select Milk Producers, Inc. Ohio Dairy Producers Association Shearer's Foods, LLC Ohio Farm Bureau Sidney Sugars Incorporated (MT) Ohio Manufacturers' Association Snack Food Association Ohio Restaurant Associaiton South Carolina Beverage Association Ohio Soft Drink Association South Carolina Farm Bureau Ohio Soybean Association South Carolina Soybean Association Oklahoma Agricultural Cooperative Council, Inc South Dakota Agri-Business Association Oklahoma Agriculture Retailers Association South Dakota Association of Cooperatives Oklahoma Farm Bureau South Dakota Biotech Oklahoma Grain & Feed Association South Dakota Farm Bureau Oklahoma Seed Trade Association South Dakota Grain & Feed Association Oklahoma Soybean Association South Dakota Soybean Association Oregon BioScience Association South Dakota Wheat Growers Oregon Cherry Growers, Inc. South Texas Cotton & Grain Association Oregon Farm Bureau Southeast Milk, Inc. Oregon Feed and Grain Association Southern California Biomedical Council (SoCalBio) Oregon Potato Commission Southern Cotton Growers, Inc. Oregon Retail Council Southern Crop Production Association Oregon Seed Association Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative Oregon Wheat Growers League Southern Montana Sugarbeet Growers Oregonians for Food and Shelter Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers Association Pacific Coast Producers Southern States Cooperative Pacific Seed Association Southwest Council of Agribusiness Beverage Association St. Alban's Cooperative Creamery Pennsylvania Corn Growers Association Syngenta US Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association Tennessee Farm Bureau Pennsylvania Restaurant Association Tennessee Soybean Association PepsiCo, Inc. Texas Corn Producers

Texas Farm Bureau Virginia Bio Texas Grain & Feed Association Virginia Farm Bureau Texas Poultry Federation Virginia Grain Producers Association Texas Seed Trade Association Virginia Soybean Association Texas Soybean Association Warner Seeds Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association Washington Association of Wheat Growers The Coca-Cola Company Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association The Hershey Company Washington Farm Bureau The J.M. Smucker Company Washington Food Industry Alliance The Kraft Heinz Company Washington Friends of Farms & Forests The Schwan Food Company Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives U.S. Beet Sugar Association Washington State Potato Commission U.S. Canola Association Welch Foods Inc. U.S. Chamber of Commerce Farm Bureau U.S. Dry Bean Council Western Peanut Growers Association United Dairymen of Arizona Western Plant Health Association United Egg Producers Western Sugar Cooperative (CO, MT, NE, WY) United FCS Wisconsin Agri-Business Association United Potato Growers of America Wisconsin Beverage Association Utah Beverage Association Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Utah Farm Bureau Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association Utah Food Industry Association Wisconsin Soybean Association Utah Manufacturers Association Wisconsin Technology Council Utah Retail Merchants Association Wise Foods Utz Quality Foods Wyandot, Inc. Farm Bureau Wyoming Sugar Company Virginia Agribusiness Council Wyoming Sugar Growers Virginia Beverage Association Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association

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i http://dyson.cornell.edu/people/profiles/docs/LabelingNY.pdf