<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Here is your chance to be heard and make a difference. Please take the time 
to write a letter to your congressional Senators and Representatives. It is 
especially important if you live in New Hampshire, Tennessee, Virginia, 
Maine, and Ohio.
  
5/9/2002
Representative Lowey and Senator Kennedy introduced their bill, the Food 
Allergen Consumer Protection Act -- in both the House and Senate today. The 
Bill is designed to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to 
establish labeling requirements regarding allergenic substances in food and 
for other purposes. The Bill includes the following language:

 …Other grains containing gluten (rye, barley, oats and triticale)…, Wheat 
is already listed as one of the primary allergens.

Lowey and Kennedy need help getting this Bill passed this year. In 
particular, they need Republican support. The key Republican Senators -- 
because they are on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions (which Kennedy chairs) -- are Gregg (New Hampshire), Frist 
(Tennessee), Warner (Virginia), Collins (Maine), and DeWine (Ohio). It is now 
up to us to tell our Senators and Representatives that this legislation is 
important to us. 

This Bill and any legislation that would further regulate food labeling are 
strongly opposed by the food industry. Kennedy would like his Committee to 
vote on the bill next month.

Do your part to help this legislation pass. 

Tips for writing your letters (best) or emails:
1.  Address the Congressman as Honorable….
2.  Keep the letter to one page
3.  Stay on the message -- The passage of Representative Lowey and Senator 
Kennedy Bill, the Food Allergen Consumer Protection Act is important to the 
health and safety of thousands of persons suffering from allergies and 
intolerances.
4.  Use the language used in the Bill …gluten and allergens, not celiac 
disease.
5.  Tell them what you want -- for them to support passage of this Bill.
6.  Sharing a bad experience and how passage of this bill would have made a 
difference can be helpful…but keep it brief.
7.  Remind them you follow their votes and that you appreciate their support.
8.  Sign your name, provide your full address, and phone number.

Where to find information:
Who represents you:  http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ziptoit.html or 
Congress.org

If you are interested in doing more of this work, contact GIG at 
[log in to unmask]

Cynthia Kupper, RD, CD
Executive Director
Gluten Intolerance Group
15110 10 Ave SW, Ste A
Seattle WA 98166-1820
206-246-6652
F: 206-246-6531
www.gluten.net

Submitted by
Nancy
Seattle, WA
USA

* Please remember some posters may be WHEAT-FREE, but not GLUTEN-FREE *