The Senate this week will decide the fate of a landmark compromise on biotech labeling, with food and agriculture looking to preserve the large bipartisan majority that supported a pivotal procedural move to bring up the legislation.
In another historic step this week, the House is expected to clear the Senate-passed Global Food Security Act, which would cement President Obama's legacy in reshaping international food and agricultural aid.
The Senate's GMO legislation would void Vermont's GMO labeling law, which took effect Friday. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders vowed in his home state on Friday that he would keep trying to stop the legislation, but his options are running out.
A crucial cloture vote, which requires a 60 votes, is likely Wednesday when the Senate returns from the Independence Day recess. Assuming the cloture motion is approved, there could as many as 30 hours of debate permitted before the Senate can move to a final vote on the bill.
A procedural vote last week suggested the bill is likely to have the necessary support to advance. The Senate voted 68-29 last Wednesday to move to the legislation. Sixteen Democrats and Maine independent Angus King joined 51 of the chamber's 54 Republicans in supporting the procedural move.
Source: agri-pulse.com