* * Urgent! Dietary Supplements Threatened, Drug Dangers Hidden * *

[Guest guest]

Bill S1082 pretends to address drug safety while in fact proposing a set of

laws that helps hide existing risks while ushering in the next generation of

extreme drug risk (the Critical Path Initiative). At the same time the bill

dramatically broadens FDA regulatory power to attack dietary supplements and

health freedom......

_http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron24.htm_

(http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron24.htm)

by Byron Richards, CCN

262 page piece of legislation

 

 

Please call your Senators NOW and ask them to vote NO on S1082, but to add

an amendment to this bill, in case it passes, to be sure " food " and " food

ingredients " are not evaluated as drugs. They are being pressured to fast tract

this bill and almost no Senator truly knows what is in it's 262 pages.

(They can be reached toll free at 800-614-2803 )

 

 

It is also important to call Senator Hatch (202-224-5251) or (800- 614-2803)

and Senator Harkin (202-224-3254), since they were the sponsors of DSHEA,

and leave a message telling them that you are very concerned that bill S1082

will gives the FDA new power to undermine DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and

Education Act) and that you request they insert the following amendment into

the legislation to avoid any possibility that dietary supplements will be

evaluated as drugs. (Note: This language has been prepared by Jonathan Emord

–

leading health freedom attorney).

 

Amendment to Bill S1082

The bill, S1082: The Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act, is

hereby amended to eliminate any reference to the terms food or food

ingredients,

such that food and food ingredients will not be subject to any jurisdiction

or control by the Regan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug

Administration.

 

Entire News with Views article which includes sample letter is below....

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

_http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron24.htm_

(http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron24.htm)

 

By Byron J. Richards, CCN

April 30, 2007

NewsWithViews.com

Bill S1082: The Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act (also called

the Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 2007) is one of the greatest scams and

con jobs ever foisted on the American public. Current FDA management is

grossly incompetent on the subject of drug safety. This new legislation

drastically increases FDA management’s power. Each day innocent citizens die

at the

hands of Big Pharma – oftentimes while the FDA hides known risks and condones

the very drugs that cause harm – all in the name of profit at the expense of

human health. See _my extensive analysis of this legislation_

(http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron23.htm) .

_http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron23.htm_

(http://www.newswithviews.com/Richards/byron23.htm)

Bill S1082 pretends to address drug safety while in fact proposing a set of

laws that helps hide existing risks while ushering in the next generation of

extreme drug risk (the Critical Path Initiative). At the same time the bill

dramatically broadens FDA regulatory power to attack dietary supplements and

health freedom.

On the afternoon of April 30, a Unanimous Consent Agreement on S1082 is

scheduled for 4:15 PM eastern time. Senator Kennedy, who is in charge of the

HELP

committee that has sent this bill to the Senate floor, is seeking to fast

track this legislation through the Senate on a voice vote before anyone figures

out what he is doing. Kennedy reported in the Congressional Record on April

24 that he filed a committee report on S1082; however, when the HELP

committee office was contacted late Friday they were unaware of any report and

did

not have one - WHICH MEANS THAT ALMOST NO SENATOR WHO IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON

MONDAY TRULY KNOWS WHAT IS IN THIS BILL. Kennedy is seeking to run a secret

government and bypass the Advise and Consent Clause of Article Two of the

United

States Constitution. This is not democracy.

As things stand right now, the bill is expected to pass by voice vote based

on the propaganda of Kennedy, Enzi, Clinton, and many others. This is a

bipartisan hoodwinking of the American public being paid for by Big Pharma. Big

Pharma and the dysfunctional FDA management have spent over two years crafting

this bill. Not only does the bill fail to solve key drug safety issues, IT

TURNS THE FDA INTO A DRUG DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.

Immediate action is required in the Senate, and if the bill should pass, in

the House. E-mail, phone, and fax your Senators and Representatives – please

do all three! Big Pharma is spending millions to pass this legislation. It is

up to the American people to stop it. Also see the additional action step

following the sample letter.

To get information on contacting your Senators follow _this link_

(http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm) :

_http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm_

(http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm)

To get information on your Congressperson in the House of Representatives

follow _this link_ (http://www.house.gov/writerep/) :

_http://www.house.gov/writerep/_ (http://www.house.gov/writerep/)

Here is a sample letter you can use:

Anti S.1082 Food and Drug Revitalization Act

April 30, 2007

The Honorable (Senator or Representative First and Last Name) Address

Address

Dear Senator (or Dear Representative) Last Name;

The issue of drug safety is of the utmost importance to myself and all

Americans. I am totally opposed to Senate bill S1082: Food and Drug

Administration

Revitalization Act, as well as any companion bill that is introduced in the

House. I am dismayed that the HELP committee has not provided a report on

this bill for your staff to study and that you are not aware of many dangerous

consequences within this legislation. As one of the 150 million Americans that

rely on dietary supplements to keep myself and my family well, I am

especially concerned that this legislation broadens FDA regulatory power to

harass

functional foods and dietary supplements – which has nothing whatsoever to do

with drug safety.

It is vital that the terms “food†and “food ingredients†be removed

from

this legislation. There must be no confusing the safety of drugs and the

safety of food and food ingredients – which are governed by different laws.

This

bill authorizes, on pages 106-107, the creation of a new regulatory category

that enables the FDA and the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA to attack

dietary supplements and functional foods. Often, I feel that the FDA is working

to protect Big Pharma and eliminate safe and effective natural health

options. By removing the terms food and food ingredients from this legislation

there

can be no confusion of drug regulation with food regulation.

Indeed, there are many shortcomings in this legislation. The following

points need a much more open and public debate, and thorough testimony in the

Senate:

 

1. There should be an end to Big Pharma funding the FDA for new drug

development. There is no other situation in government where those needing

regulation are allowed to pay the regulating agency and dictate how they will

be

regulated. This is a major conflict of interest that reduces drug safety. S1082

proposes an increase in such Big Pharma funding of the FDA. This is

unacceptable.

2. Members on FDA advisory panels should not be allowed to have financial

ties to the drugs being reviewed. This is a major conflict of interest. We need

full disclosure of all clinical trial results – especially the ones that did

not go well. S1082 allows Big Pharma to not report unfavorable results. I

want full and complete disclose in the name of safety.

3. I much prefer an independent office within the FDA to monitor the safety

of drugs already on the market. Existing FDA management has proven time and

again to lack transparency on the issue of post marketing drug safety. Safety

experts within the FDA must be totally free from management pressures.

4. I believe that legislation that places the FDA in the drug business

should be considered on its own, as a separate bill. Especially since the

Critical

Path technology is based on the idea of speeding drugs to the market even

faster with far less safety and effectiveness testing than the current drugs

which are already causing such concern. In the spirit of true and meaningful

safety reform, The Reagan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug Administration

(pages 105-125), should be evaluated at another time.

 

S1082 is seeking to do far too much without true and meaningful FDA reform.

Minimally, I want the terms “food†and “food ingredients†removed from

this

legislation. However, I ask you to vote no on the entire bill, because, as

written, it will not prevent another Vioxx catastrophe.

Sincerely,

Additional Action Step

In addition to the above letter it is important to call Senator Hatch

(202-224-5251) and Senator Harkin (202-224-3254) and leave a message telling

them

that you are very concerned that bill S1082 will gives the FDA new power to

undermine DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act) and that you

request they insert the following amendment into the legislation to avoid any

possibility that dietary supplements will be evaluated as drugs. (Note: This

language has been prepared by Jonathan Emord – leading health freedom

attorney).

 

 

Amendment to Bill S1082

Purpose of the amendment:

The bill, S1082: The Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act, is

hereby amended to eliminate any reference to the terms food or food

ingredients,

such that food and food ingredients will not be subject to any jurisdiction

or control by the Regan-Udall Foundation for the Food and Drug

Administration.

 

Intent of amendment:

To eliminate from the bill any possibility that food or food ingredients

would be treated like drugs either for safety review purposes or for assessment

of their efficacy. It is a fundamental tenet of food and drug law that foods

and food ingredients are presumed to be safe and have to be established to be

adulterated only if they present a significant or unreasonable risk of

illness or injury

Related Article:

1, _Feds eye control of vitamins, supplements – even water!_

(http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55370)

2, _FDA Wants to Eliminate Natural Health Care_

(http://www.newswithviews.com/DeWeese/tom81.htm)

© 2007 _Truth in Wellness_ (http://www.truthinwellness.com/) , LLC - All

Rights Reserved

 

 

 

 

 

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