After a couple of calls back and forth, I received a call from the office of my rep (Levin - MI). He will be signing on as a co-sponsor when they get back from the current break.

I spoke to my rep's office but the Health aide is on vaca. The aide I spoke to "promised" me he would push it to the top of her desk when she returns. I'll be calling back on Monday regardless.
I spoke to my aunt who knows a MA rep's mother and will talk to her and see if she can get me in contact with the MA rep on the E&C Committee. Seems I'm having better luck in my home state!

Well after a phone call and 3 emails I finally got favorable response. Now all we need to do is work on those on the E & C Committee!
Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention. I apologize for the confusion with my last letter and welcome the opportunity to address the correct issue.
Last year, Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY-18) introduced H.R. 3684, the Food Allergen Labeling & Consumer Protection Act. The bill requires any food that is not a raw agricultural commodity to accurately label their food if it contains a major food allergen. Major food allergens are milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, and soybeans. This bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Health, but has yet to be considered.
Roughly 2% of adults and 5% of children die each year from food allergens and the 8 food groups listed above account for 90% of these deaths. Fatally allergic reactions could be easily alleviated by better food labeling. I support the efforts of my colleague and should this bill come before the House of Representatives, I would be happy to vote in its favor.
Thank you for sending me your thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
I thank you for your concern regarding this very important matter and I hope you will continue to share your thoughts and views with me. It is my honor and privilege to serve the people of Florida's 5th Congressional District and my offices and staff are here to provide you with any assistance you may need.
Sincerely,
Ginny Brown-Waite
Member of Congress

PunkinsMom,
Yea! Levin kept his word, and is now officially signed on as a co-sponsor! That brings us to 50, which is good, but we need more, especially Republicans.
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Momtomitchell,
Thanks for your tenacity. Not sure if you feel you can push further to try to get co-sponsorship, but having a commitment to vote favorably if the bill makes it to the full House is quite valuable, and an excellent win!
I'll try to get back w/more news very soon...

nuttermore,
I spoke to the office and spoke to the Aide this morning. She said she will speak with the rep but she didn't seem to think that a co-sponsorship at this point would make a difference because it sounds like the bill will already be heard. I did explain the amount of co-sponsorship that are actually on the E&C is minimal at best and on a personal level it would mean a great deal if we saw our own rep's name on the list, to know they stand behind us.
She'll call me back next week.....
Nuttermore, I want to thank you for your own tenacity and instruction on how to help. Like many other Americans the governmental system & structure is a big blur UNTIL you need it yourself. I can only say that my "House" ignorance is no longer, I'm glad I got involved!!

Well, the good news is that we've picked up two more co-sponsors!
Rep Jay Inslee - 6/3/2004 [WA-1]
Rep Paul Ryan - 6/3/2004 [WI-1]
So we're up to 52 now. This momentum is important as the Energy and Commerce committee will be examining the legislation very soon.

This battle is not over.
As I mentioned in a prior post, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will soon vote on HR 3684, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act.
[b]I am hearing that the Food Manufacturers lobbyists are working to water down the bill, and to push back the effective date of 2006.[/b]
Don't let them succeed.
Here's a copy of the letter that I just sent to the entire House Energy & Commerce Committee.
You should write to each individual member of the Committee to ensure that they receive the communication.
Please feel free to tailor this letter as needed. I will also post a similar letter later that can be used to communicate to your Rep. (if you've not yet introduced the topic of FALCPA).
Time is precious....make your voice heard NOW!
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Subject: Better Labeling is Needed NOW - Support HR 3684
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee,
I am writing to urge your support of H.R. 3684, the "Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2003." This bipartisan legislation is critically important to the estimated 11 million Americans (roughly 1-in-25 Americans) with food allergies Similar legislation unanimously passed the Senate in March.
On May 4, 2004, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, wrote to House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Representative Joe Barton, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, enthusiastically endorsing S. 741, as passed by the Senate. The key provisions of that measure are IDENTICAL to H.R. 3684.
Of particular significance is the EFFECTIVE DATE of January 1, 2006. This is the same date on which new FDA labeling requirements for trans fats go into effect. Those regulations will give consumers better health information and allow them to take the right steps to reduce their risk of disease. ONE EFFECTIVE DATE for both labeling changes serves consumers who are in need of information, and minimizes the burden on food manufacturers. The majority of food manufacturers already follow voluntary industry guidelines for the labeling of major food allergens (announced in 2001), further reducing any 'new' burden. In fact, with improved labeling, some food manufacturers will likely derive cost savings once the implementation date is reached, due to a reduction in phone calls from food allergic families.
Please vote for H.R. 3684 without changes to the effective date. Your support for this bill will ensure that I can choose food products for my 6 year-old son without the fear of immediate harm or long-term health consequences. Thank you.
Sincerely,
xxxxx
Father of a 6 yr old child, severely anaphylactic to peanuts and tree nuts
(Edited to indicate that the e-mail address and link I provided earlier goes to a staffer who supports the Committee - no guarantee that he/she will actually forward the correspondence to each member of the Committee [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img] )
[This message has been edited by Nutternomore (edited June 08, 2004).]

We just picked up our 53rd co-sponsor.
Rep Curt Weldon [PA-7] - 6/9/2004
Let's keep those phone calls/e-mails/letters going!
[img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img] [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/smile.gif[/img]

Thanks Nuttermore! I will definately copy of the letter and get them out. Last week I got a call from my rep's office and it was a definative NO; she would not be co-sponsoring the bill, they are trying to keep their co-sponsorships down, blah blah blah. I am very disapointed.....

Good news!!!The Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and
Commerce has passed -- without amendment -- S. 741 by voice vote; Title II of S. 741 is The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act . The bill will be considered by the full committee next week. Now is the critical time to FAX or EMAIL letters to your Representatives and urge them to vote in favor of the bill. If you don't know who your Representative is in Congress, visit the House website ([url]http://www.house.gov/[/url]), or call the House at 201-224-3121. Please write your letters today!!!!
[This message has been edited by Colleen's Mom (edited June 15, 2004).]