In December 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 (H.R. 4173). On January 20, 2010, the bill was received by the Senate and read twice, then referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. To become a law, the bill must be passed by the Senate, then signed by President Obama.

So, you may be wondering, what does this have to do with integrative medicine?

Well, if passed, this bill could adversely affect the supplement industry, and ultimately your ability to access natural remedies.

Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) added a "sneak" provision into H.R.4173 (sneaky because it is largely unrelated to the bill, and the bill is likely to pass) that would endow the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with broad rulemaking and enforcement powers. Ultimately such FTC power could be used to cripple supplement companies with new regulations.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) currently protects supplements from over-regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This protection is now threatened by several measures going through Congress.

For example, in February, Senator McCain introduced the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2010 (S.3002) to the Senate. This bill, if passed, would give the FDA unbridled power over supplement regulation (you can protest S.3002 here). Not only does Waxman's sneak provision appear in H.R.4173, but it might show up as an amendment to another Senate bill at issue: Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (S.3217).

We're not saying that the FDA and FTC intend to destroy the supplement industry; these agencies ultimately serve to protect American consumers. However, it's no secret that supplements offer a healthier and more cost-effective alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. It's also no secret that pharmaceutical companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on federal lobbying.¹  You do the math....

Protect your access to natural healing modalities and take a stand against overregulation of supplements!  Sign and email this ANH-USA letter to your local senators, and protest any amendments to S.3217 that would endow the FTC with too much power over the supplement industry.

IN A DEMOCRACY, YOUR VOICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE!  Be informed and participate in health care reform!

For more information about how H.R.4173 and S.3217 could affect your ability to access supplements, click on related articles (April 27th and May 11th) found on the ANH-USA home page.

• Follow the House bill: Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009 (H.R. 4173) here.

• Follow the Senate bill: Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (S.3217) here.

 © 2010 Heart MD Institute, PA