Spiked Pablum from Congressman Ray LaHood, HR 724 and HR 3377

[Guest guest]

My other representatives don't even answer me when I send letters to

them. But I can always be sure I will receive a response from Ray

LaHood. Here is what he sent me when I sent a letter to him

requesting that he not support two bills meant to restrict my choice

of or access to health supplements. The reply is essentially garbage.

I have posted the letter verbatim, with my comments and questions

beneath:

 

" Dear Elliot,

 

Thank you for your message concerning recent legislative proposals on

dietary supplements. I am very pleased to hear from you.

 

As you mention, the Dietary Supplements Information Act, HR 724 and

HR 3377, the Dietary Supplement Access and Awareness Act have been

introduced in the House. The two are somewhat related as the purpose

of each bill is to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to

require that manufacturers of dietary supplements register with the

Food and Drug Administration and submit reports regarding adverse

experiences caused by such supplements. It is my understanding that

the goal of the legislation is to make dietary supplements safer for

consumers and will not result in the complete removal of them from

the market. I am very aware of the many benefits that these

supplements provide our citizens, and you can be assured that safe,

open access to dietary supplements will continue. Furthermore,

vitamins are already under the jurisdiction of the FDA and will not

be impacted by such legislation. This legislation would only ensure

the safety and effectiveness of supplements in a manner similar to

other drugs on the market.

 

I am very grateful that you contacted me on this important matter,

and I assure you that I will remember your concerns as the bill makes

its way through the House. Thank you for contacting me concerning

this legislation.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ray LaHood

Member of Congress "

 

My comments and questions:

 

" ...the purpose of each bill is to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and

Cosmetic Act to require that manufacturers of dietary supplements

register with the Food and Drug Administration and submit reports

regarding adverse experiences caused by such supplements. "

 

Right... " Adverse experiences... " Who decides what will be viewed as

constituting " adverse experiences " ? How will such " adverse

experiences " be kept track of and reported? What will be the results

of and the actions taken with regard to such reports? How will it be

determined that the supplements actually caused the " adverse

reaction " or " reactions " ? And of course, what about the adverse

reactions from mainstream DRUGS---reactions that in thousands of

cases result in death?

 

" It is my understanding that the goal of the legislation is to make

dietary supplements safer for consumers and will not result in the

complete removal of them from the market. "

 

Right... How will such legislation " make dietary supplements safer

for consumers " ? It will of course NOT make ANY dietary

supplements " safer for consumers. " What it will do, in order to " mke

dietary supplements safer for consumers, " is to REMOVE FROM THE

MARKET any dietary supplements considered not to be safe for

consumers, as judged by whoever is appointed to make such decisions.

The last part of the sentence tells it like it is: " will not result

in the complete removal of them from the market. " It sounds to me as

if the legislation is going to be like a net made to remove as many

supplements as it can from the marketplace. That sounds scary,

doesn't it? " will not result in the complete removal of them from the

market. " It makes me wonder if there was another bill, which didn't

make it, that DID call for " the complete removal of them from the

market. "

 

" you can be assured that safe, open access to dietary supplements

will continue. "

 

Right. Never mind that this last phrase is in obvious conflict with

the last sentence. I am just so thankful that with the passage of

these bills, there will no longer be even one or two alleged deaths

every seven years from ephedra, or some other supplement, but that

there will continue to be many thousands of deaths every year from

pharmaceuticals.

 

" This legislation would only ensure the safety and effectiveness of

supplements in a manner similar to other drugs on the market. "

 

I have the same thoughts about this sentence as with the second

sentence. HOW will these bills " ensure the safety and effectiveness

of supplements? " And what does he suppose he means by " in a manner

similar to other drugs on the market? " First of all, supplements are

not drugs. Secondly, the " safety and effectiveness " of drugs is

not " ensured. " I believe Frank or another member recently posted

MAINSTREAM information on the board that many drugs are NOT

effective, and we KNOW many of them are NOT safe.

 

Best wishes,

 

Elliot