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The following information is from
The American Association for Health Freedom
(AAHF). They have provided a list of Federal Bills to support or oppose.
Legislation Checklist
Have you taken action yet? Visit
www.healthfreedom.net
Please take action now. Below is a checklist of all the bills currently in Congress that may affect you. You can contact
Congress online at www.healthfreedom.net on all bills.
Below is a comprehensive list of legislation currently in
Congress that affect your health freedom.
BILLS TO SUPPORT
HR 4282, The Health Freedom Protection Act
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
concerning foods and dietary supplements, to amend the Federal Trade Commission
Act concerning the burden of proof in false advertising cases, and for other
purposes. Introduced by Rep. Paul [TX-14] 11/9/2005. Currently has 12
cosponsors. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. We had Rep. Ron Paul on
the Deborah Ray show Nov. 1st discussing this bill and we've had discussions
with a Senator about introducing it in the Senate. AAHF is also part of the Stop
FDA Censorship coalition that is working on passing this bill.
HR 2792, Access To Medical Treatment
To amend the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act to allow persons and legally
authorized health care practitioners access to any method of medical treatment
approved or non-approved by the FDA that is proven to be safe and effective.
Introduced by Rep. Burton [IN-5] 6/8/2005. Currently has 10 cosponsors.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. We've been in discussion with about a
dozen other members who will sign on shortly. Additionally, a cosponsor will be
sending a "Dear Colleague" letter to other members. After meeting with Sen.
Harkin, he has agreed to introduce AMTA in the Senate. His office has drafted
the bill (the same as the one in the House) and we are working with a few other
senators about being a cosponsor and it will be introduced in the Senate in the
beginning of 2006. In the past two months, over 20,000 letters have been sent
to Congress in support of this important bill and that's just the beginning. We
are also contacting other organizations to gain their support of AMTA.
H.R. 4011, Mercury in Dental Fillings Disclosure and
Prohibition Act
To prohibit after 2008 the introduction into interstate commerce of mercury
intended for use in a dental filling, and for other purposes. Introduced
by Rep Watson [CA-33] 10/6/2005. Currently has 14 cosponsors. Referred to the
Subcommittee on Health. AAHF is working with the International Academy of Oral
Medicine & Toxicology (www.iaomt.org)
to raise awareness and support of this crucial bill.
HR 2352, Consumer Access to Health Information
Clarifies that truthful health labeling claims on a food
or a dietary supplement shall not cause a food or supplement to be regulated as
a drug by the FDA. Introduced by Rep Paul [TX-14] 5/12/2005. Currently
there are no cosponsors. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
HR 2485, DSHEA Full Implementation
To ensure that the goals of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act
of 1994 are met by authorizing appropriations to fully enforce and implement
such Act and the amendments made by such Act, and for other purposes.
Introduced by Rep Burton [IN-5] 5/19/2005. Currently has 1 cosponsor. Referred
to the Subcommittee on Health.
HR 1545, Deductibility of Supplements as Medical Expenses
Similar to HR 2486, would treat expenses for certain meal replacement and
dietary supplement products as being tax deductible as a medical care cost.
Introduced by Rep Cannon [UT-3] 4/12/2005. Currently has 19 cosponsors. Referred
to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
HR 2486, Dietary Supplement Tax Fairness Act of 2005
Similar to HR 1545, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
provide that amounts paid for foods for special dietary use, dietary
supplements, or medical foods shall be treated as medical expenses.
Introduced by Rep Burton [IN-5] 5/19/2005. Currently has 5 cosponsors.
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
S 334, Prescription Drug Reimportation
Would allow U.S. residents through pharmacists and prescription drug
wholesalers to reimport prescription drugs from Canada, Australia, Japan, New
Zealand, Switzerland, and certain European Union nations. Introduced by
Sen. Dorgan [ND] 2/9/2005. Currently has 30 cosponsors. Referred to the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. Hearings
printed: S.Hrg. 109-143. Introduced by Rep Emerson [MO-8] 2/9/2005. Currently
has 22 cosponsors. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
BILLS TO OPPOSE
HR 2510, Dietary Supplement Regulatory Implementation
Unlike the positive HR 2485, this bill is trying a back door approach to
modifying DSHEA and would establish mandatory adverse event reporting for
supplements. Introduced by Rep Pallone [NJ-6] 5/19/2005. Has 1 cosponsor.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
HR 3156, Dietary Supplement Access and Awareness Act
To amend the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act with respect to
dietary supplements. Would subject dietary supplements to even stricter
oversight than these products experienced prior to the passage of the Dietary
Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in 1994. This was the infamous
HR 3377 bill in the 108th Congress but with a new section. Introduced by Rep
Davis [CA-53] 6/30/2005. Currently has 2 cosponsors (had 10 cosponsors in 108th
Congress). Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
S 1137 & H.R.3937 DHEA Removal
Classifies DHEA supplements as an anabolic steroid,
adding it to the list of DEA controlled substances, and removing it from the
market. Introduced by Sen. Grassley [IA] 5/26/2005. Currently has 4
cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Introduced by Rep
Sweeney [NY-20] 9/28/2005. Currently has 1 cosponsor. Referred to the
Subcommittee on Health.
S 729 & HR 1507, Food Safety Administration
Creates a new food agency and transfers the FDA food functions, except
dietary supplements, to the new agency. The "Food Czar" legislation would
essentially repeal the Dietary Supplement Act (DSHEA). Introduced by Sen. Durbin
[IL] 4/6/2005. Currently has 1 cosponsor (Sen. Clinton). Read twice and referred
to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Rep DeLauro [CT-3]
4/6/2005. Currently has 8 cosponsors. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
OTHER BILLS...
There are about 10 other bills that we are considering
adding to our Action Center for monitoring and encouraging grassroots activity.
Below are two possible upcoming bills.
S.722 (108th Congress)
Dietary Supplement Safety Act (Not yet introduced)
A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to
require that manufacturers of dietary supplements submit to the Food and Drug
Administration reports on adverse experiences with dietary supplements, and for
other purposes. Introduced by Sen. Durbin. Had 4 cosponsors. Durbin's office
recently told us that they will be reintroducing this bill in early 2006 and
that they are adding new language. They also sent us the list of organizations
that support it and are working on gaining more support. Sen. Durbin may not
reintroduce this bill if he finds that Sen. Harkin & Hatch's "compromise" AER
bill (see below) meets his requirements.
Adverse Event Reporting
(AER) for Dietary Supplements Bill (Not yet introduced)
A June 21 2004 debate on the Senate floor between Sens. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.),
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) resulted in an agreement to
collaborate on legislation during this session of Congress creating mandatory
adverse event reporting (AER) for dietary supplements. Spurred by Durbin's
introduction of a Department of Defense (DOD) authorization bill amendment which
would require companies selling certain dietary supplements on military bases to
report serious AERs to the government. Harkin and Hatch immediately introduced
an alternative amendment that would have required the Department of Health and
Human Services to develop a national AER reporting system and report back to
Congress within six months. The debate went from Dietary Supplement Health and
Education Act (DSHEA), enforcement by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to
ephedra and androstenedione and then to other dietary supplement topics. The
debate concluded with an agreement to withdraw the amendments and work together
to add a mandatory AER system to pending legislation classifying steroid
precursors as controlled substances. The promised "AER Compromise" bill never
happened in the 108th session so Sen. Durbin kept introducing his amendment to
DOD authorizing bills as leverage to get the AER compromise bill going.
Well that time is about now. Sen. Harkin & Hatch are
drafting with the assistance of HELP (Health,
Education, Labor And Pensions) Chairman, Enzi an Adverse Event Reporting
bill. Why are long-time supporters of dietary supplements Hatch & Harkin
working with one of our most vocal opponents? Sen. Durbin has gained a lot of
power in Congress by becoming Minority Whip (Democrat's second in command).
Durbin needs Hatch & Harkin because he's not on the HELP committee (and they
are) and he needs their support to get ANY type of AER bill through the
committee. Any HELP Committee mark-up on the Harkin, Hatch, Durbin, Enzi FDA
AER for Supplements bill is off the agenda until next year. No further
negotiations have been held. As soon as we have more information on this bill,
we will let our members know.
TWO MORE ITEMS
Don't be surprised if the long-awaited
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
for the dietary supplement industry is released during the holidays (they were
submitted to the OMB two months ago). These long delayed GMPs are expected to
be agreeable to the dietary supplement industry but there are concerns that the
rule will not be put forth without the signature of a confirmed commissioner.
Which leads us the beleaguered FDA which has had high
turnover during the past several years. After the speedy resignation of FDA
Commissioner, Lester Crawford, President Bush named NCI Andrew von Eschenbach,
M.D., an oncologist and current head of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of
the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as
FDA's acting commissioner. Word around town is that Bush
may not nominate a permanent replacement for quite a while (maybe up to 18
months) due to the politicization of the position and the resulting difficulty
of winning confirmation in the Senate.
HOW WE STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
We are a family of health freedom organizations working to
ensure your access to dietary supplements and alternative medicine (along with
other health freedom issues). Established in 1992, we are located in the
Washington DC area, have strong relationships with members of Congress (and have
a former Congressman on our Board), are able to invest in the tools and
resources to make an impact, we work with other credible and effective
organizations, and can use our three distinct organizations to make a
difference.
The Health Freedom
Foundation (HFF) is a charitable membership organization. From
building relationships with the academic world, other nonprofits, or health
leaders to creating an environment where health care professionals can more
easily provide alternative therapies, HFF strives to the find the best approach
to our most pressing health freedom issues.
Your tax-deductible
donation/membership dues will go towards projects such as The Umbrella Stand
(protecting integrative health care professionals), Project COMPARE (CA state
medical board study), and The Tomato Effect (documentary to raise awareness).
The American Association
for Health Freedom (AAHF) is our politically active voice at the
federal level. AAHF ensures health freedom by lobbying Congress and crafting
legislation; acting as a government watchdog and filing comments on proposed
rulings; initiating legal activities (e.g., lawsuits, amicus briefs, petitions),
and joining and forming significant coalitions. Click
here to view our membership benefits or join online.
The AAHF PAC
is a nonpartisan political action committee. The purpose of the AAHF PAC is to
provide an opportunity for citizens who are interested in health freedom to
better support like-minded candidates. The AAHF PAC is committed to finding and
supporting viable candidates who can further promote health freedom issues. At
this time, participation in AAHF PAC is only available to AAHF members. If you
are an AAHF member, please consider making a donation to the only health freedom
political action committee. Contact us at 1.800.230.2762 or e-mail us at
office@healthfreedom.net to inquire about your
personal, non tax-deductible donation.
These three organizations are working together to ensure
that health freedom in the United States is not restricted and in fact, gets
even better!
I hope you're able to be part of our growing health
freedom movement and I look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Brenna Hill
Executive Director
PO Box 458
Great Falls, VA 22066
1.800.230.2762
703.759.6711 (fax)
www.healthfreedom.net
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