Two weeks ago we told you about a “sneak” anti-supplement provision (Section 4901) slipped at the last moment into the House Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 4173). This “below the radar” provision is intentionally written in unintelligible legalese that can barely be deciphered by a legislative or legal expert (here is the actual language if you want to try to decipher it yourself). Reduced to understandable language, this section gives the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) broad new rulemaking and enforcement authority.
Although this proposed new FTC authority can be used against a wide variety of industries, it particularly threatens the dietary supplement industry and consumer access to dietary supplements. Why? Because the FTC has adopted a destructive policy toward supplement companies that presently can only be applied to those few companies signing FTC consent agreements. If the new provision becomes law, the FTC could and almost certainly would apply its policy to all supplement companies. The likely result is that many supplements and supplement companies would disappear. (More information about this is available in our alert.)
Drug companies would of course be delighted to see supplement companies put out of business by harsh FTC requirements. They know that supplements are their chief potential competition, are often more effective than drugs, are often less toxic, and are always far, far less expensive.
Supplements are already regulated by the FDA under DSHEA. If the Waxman provision becomes law, the FTC will gain the power to override the limited protections for supplements that already exist under DSHEA. The FDA would still have to respect DSHEA, but the FTC would be under no such constraint.
Many thousands of you have taken action though our website and requested your Senators not to include Waxman’s dangerous FTC power expansion measure in the Senate version of the Wall Street Reform bill. We are pleased to report that the Senate is listening.
The Senate’s Restoring American Fiscal Stability Act of 2010 (S.3217) is moving its way though the chamber right now. Just as we expected, an effort was made by Senator Rockefeller to convince Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT) to include Waxman’s FTC provision into the bill before it came to the floor as part of the “managers amendment.” If this had succeeded, the battle would have been over. But we headed this off by making the provision too “controversial”, as Senator Dodd reportedly said.
Still, the fight isn’t over. The bill is on the Senate floor and a senator could still offer the now controversial FTC expansion measure as a floor amendment, although a floor amendment would be much easier to defeat.
If you haven’t already done so, please TAKE ACTION on our alert and be sure to forward the link to your friends and family. The alert will also provide you with more information about the provision and why it is so toxic for supplements.
200 comments
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Please send any suggestions you may have to encourage others to actively fight this possible
takeover by the Federal Trade Commission of the supplement industry. I have emailed everyone in my address book and have asked them to take action. Very few people have done so. I have taken action on multiple web sites and sent these sites on people. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Supplements have been a God send to me, as I have had to battle ovarian cancer, stage 3.
I went through six months of chemo, and thanks to the supplements I did not have side effects from the chemo, and the cancer was totally gone by the first round of chemo. This is highly unusual for this type of cancer to go into remission after just one month of chemo. I have used supplements for over 40 years, and never had a side effect or problem develop from their use. I cannot say the same for , Actinal, a drug prescribed for osterporisis, which developed due to the
steroids given before each chemo treatment (another bad drug side effect). Within seven
weeks, I had such severe pain I couldn’t even turn over in bed. ( And I have always been a person who exercises regularly.) I got out the pamphlet in the package
of Actinal, and read THE MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECT; BONE AND JOINT PAIN. I immediately got off the Actinal, but the problem took literally a year to subside. I have since
read thousands of such complaints against Actinbal and Fosamax, both prescribed for osterporosis.
More people need to be made aware that certain sneaky, unscrupulous people in our government would like to take away another of our rights – the right to attend to our own health and have the freedom to purchase supplements in the dosages deemed helpful. I want to spread the word. How can I help?
Cheryl Shaia
Our freedom to maintain our health in the way we believe is best is guaranteed by the Constitution: “the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” What influences our happiness more than our health? I can’t think of anything. It is an old saying, without health you have nothing. So let’s not go down the path of fascism and dictate what Americans can eat and drink and take as medicine. These things are best left to the individual. There isn’t a single reason why the government should have anything to say at all about these matters.
Please keep out of my CHOICE for MY health care! Leave my choice to take supplements up to myself and my Doctor!
Your concern should be protecting our Country’s Borders from illegals!!
I have never had an adverse reaction to any vitamin supplement I have bought over the counter, I can NOT say the same for perscribed medications. Please double your efforts to control the perscribed drugs and leave the freedom to choose a supplement to me and my self responsibility, I trust my judgment more than any one of the BIG PHARMAs. I am an RN, have been since I was 22 and now at 70 years of age I still dislike and distrust the Pharmaceutical companies who are gouging Americans. Leae us to find our own nutritional supplements, stay out of our diets and while you are at it stay out of our bodies in general.
Please keep Section 4901 out of the H.R.4173. I use supplements and they have improved my health! Thank you!
Yes let’s make sure the health of the citizens of this great country isn’t sacrificed for profit. Such ideas absolutely sicken me.
I don’t need some criminal congressman who gets payoffs from the drug industry telling me whether or no I can take supplements. It’s time to vote these money mongers out of office. How about conressman that represent the people instead of the corporations – what a concept.
I can decide what supplements I should take. You’ve already allowed the FDA to destroy our food. Enough is enough.
Health freedom is essential! Maintain the rights of dietary supplement industries to provide consumer access to dietary supplements, and consumers the rights to purchase according to our own conscience.
This is a basic violation of our rights to cater to big pharmaceutical companies. We as individuals should count!
stop anti supplement legislation!
PLEASE LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE! We do not need protection from them; we need unlimited access to them.
I strongly hope that you will see to it that this language is not included in the bill.
The concept of taking nutrients away from the American people and all people for that matter is a criminal attack against people and nothing less. Anyone who forwards this idea is working for outside interests and completely wrong. Taking nutreints away from the public should never happen and if someone wants this to happen then they are a criminal.
I am a user of supplements and vitamins and request that you allow people to continue to choose what is best for THEM and not continue to interfere and restrict decisions regarding our health and well being.
Dear Mr. Waxman,
I have consistently been a staunch supporter of yours since the time I first heard of you and the great work that you had done prior to you joining congress.
I was and am shocked to find out that you are supporting taking away our rights to purchase supplements, which for many people, make all the difference in their quality of life. I would love to understand the reasons behind, in my view, this major inconsistency with you reliably supporting “the people.”
Most sincerely,
Ron Levy, MS, LMFT
5-11-10
One more example of the “under the table” lobbyist’s.
I had thought that Waxman’s ethics were beyond a slippery move like this,. Apparently I was wrong.
Okay ….so now I know and have more facts to base my votes on……. that goes for all of you.
Dear Mr. Waxman,
I have consistently been a staunch supporter of yours since the time I first heard of you and the great work that you had done prior to you joining congress.
I was and am shocked to find out that you are supporting taking away our rights to purchase supplements, which for many people, make all the difference in their quality of life. I would love to understand the reasons behind, in my view, this major inconsistency with you reliably supporting “the people.”
Most sincerely,
Ron Levy, MS, LMFT
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE! We do not need protection from them; we need unlimited access to them.
This horable , evil system has just got to get better. All these attacks on natural things is terrible. It should be an individual choice to use what they want. Big Pharma wanting us sick and our quality of health care being aroung 30 in the world says it all. Enough of this nonsense and game playing. It’s a time of exposure whether you guys like it or not. The truth is coming out about so many things………the flood gates are opening up and you people must really hate that. The nasty truth and alterior motives are coming out and I’m sure it will come full circle in some way or another and no one has to do anything as I’m sure God will stepping in soon and he almost has to as this has gotten so out of hand and crooked and heinous. You will never do the right and good things for mankind as there is too much greed and where will that get you when somehow all of this affects your health too and where will riches get you as the world falls apart around you of your own making? Think you’re special when you are involved with bad people? Oh really? Well the bad people with bad motives have a rude awakening when you find out after you have served your purpose for them that you are no more special than the rest of us in the end……where will you be then?
Why can WAXMAN slip this in to a Bill for Banking reform THESE SNEAK ATTACKS MUST STOP
Why can WAXMAN slip this in to a Bill for Banking reform THESE SNEAK ATTACKS MUST STOP
Why can WAXMAN slip this in to a Bill for Banking reform THESE SNEAK ATTACKS MUST STOP
Why can WAXMAN slip this in to a Bill for Banking reform THESE SNEAK ATTACKS MUST STOP
Why can WAXMAN slip this in to a Bill for Banking reform THESE SNEAK ATTACKS MUST STOP
Why can WAXMAN slip this in to a Bill for Banking reform THESE SNEAK ATTACKS MUST STOP
Why can WAXMAN slip this in to a Bill for Banking reform THESE SNEAK ATTACKS MUST STOP
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE…WE ARE ADULTS AND CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN MINDS WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR BODIES OR NOT..WE DON’T NEED YOU DOING THAT FOR US THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE…WE ARE ADULTS AND CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN MINDS WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR BODIES OR NOT..WE DON’T NEED YOU DOING THAT FOR US THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE…WE ARE ADULTS AND CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN MINDS WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR BODIES OR NOT..WE DON’T NEED YOU DOING THAT FOR US THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE…WE ARE ADULTS AND CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN MINDS WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR BODIES OR NOT..WE DON’T NEED YOU DOING THAT FOR US THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE…WE ARE ADULTS AND CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN MINDS WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR BODIES OR NOT..WE DON’T NEED YOU DOING THAT FOR US THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE…WE ARE ADULTS AND CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN MINDS WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR BODIES OR NOT..WE DON’T NEED YOU DOING THAT FOR US THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS ALONE…WE ARE ADULTS AND CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN MINDS WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR BODIES OR NOT..WE DON’T NEED YOU DOING THAT FOR US THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
I am opposed to increased regulation of supplements, and I hope you will vote against provision (Section 4901) of the House Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 4173).
Carol Nylander
You have my support to stop the goverment from restricting free use of supplements by Americans. Thank you for keeping us free to choose our own paths.
Do not support this bill!
Keep Waxman’s Anti-Supplement FTC Language Out of The Senate Bill it’s anti choice.
It would be wonderful if our glorious [sic] congressional leaders in $ewertown, many of them $ociopathic misanthropes with the insight and compassion of rabid dogs, would stop trying to hurt us or even kill us (We the People). Egotistical dick-heads like $enator Waxman are whore pigs working for rapaciously grrreeeedy pharmaceutical Nazies (and other criminal elements); the name of the game is to keep the general population $tewepid and sick for the $ake of corp-rat profits.
Burn is hell Waxman! May you be cursed with a vile and terrible cancer that will cause you horrible pain and agony till the moment of your death. And I wish even worse for Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, $enator Lieberman and other traitors to original American precepts, the foundation of the failing democratic republic presently known as the UNITED $TATES OF PERPETUAL WAR PROFITEERING. Rome is burning because of these vile and vicious $ociopaths… and other ruling class elitists like them. Beware! There is a seething hatred out here in the hinterlands… and it wants a pound of flesh!
I believe that we should make our own choices on what we put in our bodies. This is a democratic society the last time I checked.
It is really esssential that we prevent the FTC provision. I take supplements and I do not want our govt’ to tell me what I can take or not. I assume all responsibility for myself. I have had damage done to me by taking Big Pharma drugs. The damage is irreversible!
We cannot allow government/big business to take control of our supplements.
Drug companies need to be regulated. Their profit levels are killing people who can’t afford their life saving drugs.
Please do not allow Waxman’s FTC provision to pass. FDA regulates our supplements enough.
Please DO NOT vote to include Waxman’s FTC provision in the Wall Street Reform Bill.
Thank you.
Vern Souder
stop any and all proposed restrictions on dietary supplements. Big Pharma has enough money, and the public is already sick enough without making vitamins and supplements more expensive.
It is time to get real and leave our access to vitamins and supplements alone. As a supplement user I take great exception to congress messing with my rights to use thing I have proven work for me, and that don’t come from the criminal pharmaceutical companies. Leave people’s rights alone and find something more constructive to do.
We don’t need the FDA telling us what vitamins or minerals are not good for us. This is ridiculous.
What are we in – some communist state where the government doesn’t think we can decide for ourselves if we should consume a food product or not? Vitamins and minerals are not illegal drugs – yet – and if they become so, I’m leaving this country for Canada for it will no longer be free but run by power companies like pharmaceuticals and Monsanto who will be dictating what we are allowed to eat or drink. I suppose they will soon ban the Victory garden as well because the vegetables aren’t contaminated with Monsantos poisons! Come on people, you are supposed to be working for us, the people, not power companies. Let’s keep some sanity out there – read before you vote!~ Thank you.
If president Obama wants americans to get healthier through preventative health care then he needs to ensure supplements are not restricted and made available to all.
The right to treat myself as I choose to, for whatever health concerns I may have, or preventative measures I wish to take, should be my divine right – akin to the first amendment – for it is my body and only mine, and I am the only one who can/must take responsibility as well as accountability for it.
I am a recepient and beneficiary of Phyto-nutirent protocols and supplementation that has been very effective over the last 10 years, when normal medications were not. This supplementation helped me rescue me from heart disease, diabetes and depression. Phyto-Nurients, not pharmaceuticals, saved my life, and I am living proof.
To limit my access to Phyto-Nutrients and associated protocols would not only limit my freedom of choice, it might kill me. There are many fine supplements on the market, and we should be able to choose without restriction what we each need.
R. Rich
Dear Senators,
Why don’t you guys and girls find some business of your own and then mind it. Keep your snoopy little noses out of my vitamins and minerals. Speaking of minerals, why don’t you pay more attention to the greedy oil companies that are spewing oil into my ocean. Why do they get subsidies? Why do they get tax breaks? Exxon Mobil paid ZERO taxes last year. Why are they not in jail? BP wasn’t even going to bring the oil from Deepwater Horizon to market. They were capping the well when it blew. That way they can pretend there is a shortage and screw us at the pumps some more. We have global catastrophes in our oceans and financial markets and you focus on my vitamins? Are you nuts?
Stop messing with our suplements. Get out of bed with big phama. Don’t. think
Stop thinking the American public is Stupid!!
Stop!!!
Catherine
I have never seen or heard of any recalls on natural supplements. I have never heard of anyone dying from natural supplements. I can not say the same for pharmaceutical medicines which seems to make announcements of dangers and recalls on a regular basis. In fact, most advertised pharmaceuticals have side affects that are worse than the malady they are treating. If it weren’t for natural supplements I’d be dead by now. I take them and I trust them.
When there is more and more disease, does it make sense for people to have less options to prevent disease and promote wellness?
WE HAVE RIGHTS. THE RIGHT TO KNOW AND THE RIGHT TO TAKE SUPPLEMENTS.
This bill is just something that the Drug companies see as a profit grower. Most people get their vitamins from a reliable source. Such as Walgreens, Wallmart or a health food store. These are quality products. You’re no more likely to get a contaminated vitamin then you are contaminated generic aspiirin.
Just like the filthy rich pharmacutical drug pushers that decieve the american people that drugs that Kill are safe they know that 2 3 years or longer that they wi l l K I L L while they & the F D A SELL at extreme prices !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean they know they will maybe hurt but they dont care about our lives one bit . How many drugs are being found to to cause extreme harm lately !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tylenol Fentaynol that killls which is a narcotic pain patch ! People knew what H I T L E R was doing but most people dont realize that the drug companys and the ” F – D – A !!!!!ARE DOING THE SAME EXACT THING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But they are thought of as caring for us !!!!!!!!!!They dont want humans to know vitamins minerals amino acids organic foods non G M O foods etc !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can heal usally better -cost a lot less than extremely over priced drugs that could do more harm than good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! G O D – B L E S S
I cannot give any money, as I’m retired on SS.
Most healthy Americans rely on supplements because our government has allowed the food corporations to poison our food supply. Imagine that! Instead of policing our supplements, which, in most cases are sold by people with morals, why doesn’t the government step on Food Inc and sell us healthy, nutricious food containing the God created, natural elements required for good health? No, instead you bring us Franken foods.
Control is a serious form of addition that is legal, unfortunately, but control does more to harm the spirit of a country than all the other addictions combined.
What’s the point in heathcare when Monsanto is in the high chair????
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Waxman will sell out to any lobbying money that comes his way. The same goes for John McCain , Barbara Mckulsky and so many more useful fools in Congress. We are healthy because we rely on our own research and descretionary health supplements. Tell the useful fools and crooks in Congress to back off! Alexander Gerry
Read “Politics in Healing” by Daniel Haley and all the facts proving the efficacy of supplemnts will be verified.
Anyone denying uninvasive remedies must be paid and bought by the AMA and pharmaceuticals with profit the bottom line, NOT cures, health and well-being!
Perhaps you, along with many other organizations interested in people rather than in campaign contributions, could start an interest in getting our laws written in plain English. Since ignorance of the law is no excuse, we mere mortals are inescapably “guilty” of this or that even if we religiously read the Federal Register every day!
More supervision over big Pharma (vioxx, etc.)
Leave our natural supplements alone.
Just when we think we have protected our right to our herbs and supplements, another senator comes up and tries to sneak it in to the Wall Street Reform. Wall Street Reform should be about that, NOTHING else. It is our constitutional right, our inalienable right to keep ourselves well in the best possible manner, and Big Pharma and these hellacious pills are NOT the way to go. Protect our right to organic good and our herbs and supplements, and put a rest to it NOW.
I love my country,,,,I never thought I would live to see it a socislist state, keep taking our rights away and well be what we are fighting against in iraq, and if we keep copying the mother country we might as well have lost that war. what are our leaders thinking? I guess they are not.,,,,,,,,,,Jan greene
this is insane… just one more thing dominating people how they live… people who are doing good in this world.
this law would greatly affect my business and people who I know are healthy because of the nutritional supplements I market…
stop this insanity!!!
FTC needs to be out of the supplement industry
Either Mr Waxman or anyone who supports this anti-supplement provision (Section 4901) do not take supplementation to remain healthy, or they do, but don’t care about the rest of us. Either way, it is not OK to limit the tools that help us in maintaining our health. This is an individual’s matter — not to be legislated! How much money-persuasion from Pharma have you personally accepted to push this horrific restriction through?
Let the individual (consumer) in the marketplace determine the course of things — not the legislators and not the marketers (Pharmaceutical companies) who have replaced common sense with money madness.
Most Sincerely,
Charlie White
This bill is an outrage.
No Anti-Supplement Measures please. Thanks.
I am outraged at yet another attempt to reduce or eliminate my right as a consumer to purchase and consume effective and potent dietary supplements. It is with increasing frequency that bills or amendments to to entirely non-related legislation are introduced that attempt to limit or eliminate dietary supplements. Many hundreds of products and preparations that have been safely used for thousands of years are now deemed “unsafe”. One must question the motive(s) behind these attempts.
This is a very surreptitious attempt to “sneak it in”. We currently have DSHEA to ensure our right to supplements. I urge you leave it alone.
Why is it that we are getting this much attention over something we do that is legal? Why must those of us who take supplements be held to a different standard, than the poisonous BIG PHARMA garbage? Because if the truth be told more people become ill, and die from BIG PHARMA’S chemicals than from supplements. Yet there is no move to have truly independant exams of these medications. Why?
Keep your hands off of my supplements! you are NOT my keeper.
I have been taking supplements for many years and I have seen what these wonderful products can do. I have been helped by these supplements for over 20 years. It would be a terrible thing to mess with such a wonderful help for all of those who use them. They are excellent!!!!!! Martin Gebel
Enough!
How can you do this to all of America?
Is it worth the wrath of all america to stow away money for your future.
You have enough.
Stop it.
Senators
Please keep Senator Waxman’s anti-supplement language out of the Senate Supplement bill.
It will only open up the door to abuse in the future and will hinder, not help, our ability to assume our responsibility for our own health.
Please, please listen to us on the passage of this bill.
Thank you.
Natalie Blahut
3990 Sun Hawk Blvd
Tallahassee, Florida 32309-1428
850-656-6097
Waxmen is obviously a *WHACK-O*!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Totally in collusion with Big Pharma like everyone else in congress.
November cometh!
Waxman’s FTC provision is bad NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OUT OUT DAMN SPOT. Get yourself educated, Waxman. IGNORANCE IS not Bliss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s time to seperate the powers of the food and drug agency. They have no business trying to regulate food and suppliments if they are workung for the drug compnies.
Keep your garbage anti-supplement language out of the bill. I can’t believe you’re at it again! I will never vote for you again!!!!!!!!
Taryn Braband
1950 Olivera Drive
Agoura, CA 91301
Waxman needs to retire along with the rest of his crowd. Waxman has no idea what he is
doing except trying to make waves for everyone in America, send him on Pelosi’s boat.
Leave my supplements alone !
We need to protect freedom of choice relating to our bodies!!! This is tiresome to always have to fight for our rights 3-4 times a year!
I realize that there is a provision (Section 4901) that has been slipped into the House Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 4173).
This provision needs to be struck down and not allowed to pass. If passed, it would mean that millions of Americans would not be allowed to purchase supplements that are necessary for supreme health.
Again! Immoral, unethical and financially corrupt officials trying to break the law and usurp the power of the people. Who elected these dangerous idiots? The morons in this country just don’t get it! The government is out of control and dangerous! Washington is full of terrorists. They don’t even have the slightest sense of decency and can’t even leave simple supplements alone. They call it work when these idiots want to come up with bills that restrict everything important to human life. How much more restrictive can the government become? It’s already fascist. And they call the White Power Groups dangerous, yeah right! At least they are trying to preserve freedom. What is Washington doing to preserve FREEDOM? Nothing!!!
Humans have been taking herbs, spices and medicinal supplements long before ink on paper.
I cured / removed my own gallstones using medicinal supplements. I cured myself of sinus infections with supplements. I use supplements for arthritis, and many other ways to keep myself healthy.
We most certainly don’t need the FTC, FDA, DEA, ATF, FBI, EPA, FAA, FCC, SEC, CIA, NPS and many others. The list is so long , you need a spreadsheet to count the amount of dangerous groups in Washington.
We don’t need the large drug companies, they are nothing but a monstrous strain on society and keep the uneducated on toxic poisonous drugs that are more lethal than rat poison and methamphetamines combined.
HR 2454: Cap and Trade, legalized government theft will not allow you to sell your home without a home license.
WE DO NOT WANT OUR DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS TAKEN AWAY. HANDS OFF, BULLIES.
YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE AND WE WANT OUR FREEDOM IN MAKING DECISIONS IN WHAT IS GOOD FOR US, EVERY INDIVIDUAL SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO TAKE CARE OF ITS OWN BODY!!!!
We don’t need one of our Democratic socialists working behind our backs to deny us our God given Freedom to remain Healthy and protect our health by using supplements.
Dear Congressman Waxman.
I am a great fan of your in general and call you the watch dog of the public. I have followed your career since your days on the LA City council with my cousin Hal Bernson.
I would like to ask you to think about people like me with disease that are benefited by natural herbal substances more than pharmacutical drugs that are syntesized. The one that I am finding harder and harder to get is Armour thyroid which somehow helps my fibromyalsea.
That ammendment you have added to the “Wall St. Reform Bill” can hurt me more than it helps me.
I am writing to you on a personal level but it is not just for me but all of us with orphan diseases who have found some help in natural suppliments.
Best regards and thanks for your lifetime committment to the public.
Karyn Shaudis
I am strong supporter of supplements!
AVAILABILITY OF HEALTH SUPPLIMENTS MUST BE PROTECTED. MANY OF US CANNOT TOLERATE CHEMICAL VITAIMNS AND MEDICINES.
Supplements should not be regulated and monopolized by the AMA and big Pharm. They are only good at one thing, raping the public of their health and wealth. Their tyrannical rule has gone far enough.
I am VERY concerned about the stealthy way that Sen. Waxman has
chosen to attach an amendment giving the 5 (five) people reaching and binding
powers over many items, including DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS.
You and I both know that these supplements are ALREADY being overseen by
the FDA (within the DSHEA regulations). The FTC was already seen to be an
abusive power, and Congress did something about it in the past.
For financial stability of the middle-class, it would behoove you to vote NO
for this amendment, which favors the Pharmaceutical Companies (who already
make a HUGE profit because of their unbelievable hike of prices as compared
to the real costs of the drugs).
In conjunction with a bill which will help the economy, the FTC amendment
will help to DESTROY the middle class’ personal economy…and take away the
choices they have now for their health. Supplements and other dietary measures
have brought back many to good health when the Doctors and Pharmaceuticals
have proved to be no longer effective.
I sincerely hope that you take your precious time to be made aware of this
situation, and vote AGAINST any amendments favoring the FTC.
Thank You for Your Time and Consideration.
Wasn’t this whole FTC issue defeated decades ago? Why did Waxman bring it back? Be he thought it was all his brain child.
realise what happens to your children and grandchildren if they have to live on chemicals enstead of real God given cures.
Government needs to stay out of regulation of vitamins and supplements. I will be following this act closely and as a voter, I will take into consideration who has the financial interests of THE AMERICAN PEOPLE in mind. We are already over taxed. What NEXT?????? TAX on EMAILS? TAX on a walk through the MALL????? TAX on a bike ride at the local TRAIL?
I am a retired teacher who has to get a second job because of my health care rates and cost of living expenses, plus taxes. I have little food in refrigerator and cupboards. I use supplements to offset the good food I cannot afford to buy. My quality of life is poor.
Please do not take my life away Mr. Dodd. I passed out hot dogs in a CT parking lot to campaign for your father during more prosperous times. Look what has become of this country. Look what has become of its people. Please work with us, not against us.
Let the FDA and the DSHEA keep on doing the good job they are doing. This is NOT the way to restore fiscal stability on our country. Trim the fat, Mr. Dodd. It starts at the top.
Sincerely,
Leslie Parmentier
If you have to sneak the anti-supplement provision (Section 4901) into a bill then the populous obviously does not want it. Sneak it back out.
Two weeks ago we told you about a “sneak” anti-supplement provision (Section 4901) slipped at the last moment into the House Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 4173)
If you have to sneak the anti-supplement provision (Section 4901) into a bill
Please leave dietary supplements alone. On the surface it sounds great but will inflate prices and insurance will still not cover them. Also, the big pharma will try to ban some so they can make their own synthetic stuff which will not be as good. Big Pharma does not have the public interest in their goals, it’s the almighty dollar.
thanks
The rider inserted into this bill is insidious, unconstitutional and mean-spirited. Big Pharma must not be permitted to put out of business all the small supplement manufacturers who would never be able to pay for the exxtremely expensive cost of conducting double-blind, randomly selected, placebo controled research on items that natural, inexpensive and well-known for their health-giving qualities.
This extremely unfair aspect of the bill must be removed.
Thank you for reading my comments.
Richard P. Fuller
Supplements are our right.
Our bodies belong to us.
We have a right to care for them as we wish.
We have a right to a choice.
To whom it may concern,
I’m very much opposed to the Henry Waxman FTC language in the House bill. I certainly don’t want it to get into the Senate bill. Thankyou very much! Ron
Keep up this nonsense and we’ll vote you all out.We the people are awake to your corporate greed..
Please remove Congressman Waxman’s Anti-Supplement measure from the Wall St Reform Bill that was recently passed by the House of Representatives. This measure is disregards a consumer’s right to the pursuit of happiness by limiting the choices regarding health care to those that are in line or directly from the pharmaceutical industry, offering less of an option for natural remedies that can prevent and or heal illness. Thank you.
supplements are much more effective for most people than anything the drug companies can produce. Most drugs just temporarily hide the problem.
Please leave our supplements alone! As Americans we should have the right to choose how we treat our own health and not be forced to use prescription drugs, which is what the drug companies want to accomplish. Prescription drugs are the 3rd leading cause of death in the US and they always have unpleasant side effects. Personally, I like to take care of myself so that I don’t become sick by eating the right foods and taking supplements to enrich my health and safeguard against potential disease and health threats. Food supplements are safe and do not cause unpleasant side effects. Therefor I am apposed to any law which will restrict my access to these supplements and/or any natural foods and extracts. Thank you…Greg Bartlette
Please, stop the assaults on our health freedoms.
We Americans that want to improve our own health must stick together to fight the scheming drug industry.
anything that has the name rockefeller as the one doing the bidding concerns even the greatest skeptics. surely there are far more important things to be discussing when it comes to human health and developmnet. there is always a sneak preview of what these politicians are really trying to accomplish. it is never in the best interest of the people they are there to represent. big business big bottom lines and who cares for the consequences. i think we need to vote agains t most of the stuff they have present on the floor particularly because you can’t trust any of them.
It doesn’t surprise me to find waxman and finestien teaming up to do something wrong. That figures. This travesty must be stomped into oblivion, or we all lose!
No! on, section 4901
Natural medicine is the only thing that I have ever found to bring health and healing and now you want to take it away. Just look at the stats. How many deaths from alternative medicine compared to the deaths from drugs that only mame and put a band aid for awhile until another drug is needed to help what the last drug caused. It goes on and on until death sets in. I’m not saying that there is not a need for allopathic medicine. I’m just saying that alternative saved lives and makes people healthy. We certainly need hospitals and doctors also.
I choose not to use drugs to treat my body. Please respect my Spiritual beliefs that God designed my body to heal its self if fed properly. I also respect modern medicine .Let me choose how I want to care for my body.
Please stand up for our rights to take our vitamin supplements.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Florence Scheuchenzuber
America is about freedom and our access to dietary supplements is part of that freedom. If those rights ever got taken away, we are no longer America.
THERE IS ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO
RECALL HENRY WAXMAN FOR COVERT SNEAKY ACTIONS!!
SEND A FAX TO HIS OFFICE…..1-323-655-0502
FAX THE WHITE HOUSE 1-202-456-2461
PLEASE ENJOY ME ON WELLNESS ANSWERS.ORG
OPPS
THAT IS PLEASE JOIN ME ON WELLNESSANSWERS.ORG FOR MORE POLITICAL ACTIONS.
I totally oppose Waxman’s Bill Section 4901 Anti Supplement Initiative.
This is a horrible crime against the health of American people and a violation of our rights and freedom as United States Citizens to make decisions regarding our health.
This bill favors the Big Pharmaceutical companies and does not consider the basic principles upon which our country has been built.
Please do not vote for this bill.
I request that the US Senate keep out the sneaky authorization for the FTC to regulate food supplements.. Vitamins should not be regulated by the FTC. Vitamins are food.
When are you peoole in Congress going to get your act straight and really represent the American people?
Plese Keep Waxman’s Anti-Supplement FTC Language Out of The Senate Bill.
Thankyou
Don Keller
Keep the anti-supplement bill out of the Wall Street Reform Bill.
We the people want freedom to choose and use safe, healthy, alternative herbal supplements, otherwise known as God’s medicine. Tell the greedy, corrupt pharmaceuticals and their lackeys in government to learn about democracy and to keep their fascism to themselves and out of our government.
Please do your best to assure that all attacks against this bill are rejected i’m sure you will do the right thing and stand up!!!
KEEP WAXMAN’S ANTI-SUPPLEMENT FTC LANGUAGE OUT OF THE SENATE BILL.(SECTION 4901)
SECRETLY PUT INTO CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT.H.R.4173.
WE ARE TIRED OF ALL THIS BACK DOOR-ILLEGAL CRAP GOING ON-IN WASHINGTON AND TIME TO S T O P IT!!! ALL ANY ONE UP THERE IS LOOKING FOR IS: WHAT IS IN THIS FOR ME -PERKS, PORK AND POWER TO PLEASE ALL THE LOBBYIST AND YOURSELF.
WE ARE SO ( O V E R ) ALL OF YOU -IT IS TIME TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB AND DON’T SAY YOU WEREN’T WARNED!!!!!!!!
The US Senate has become nothing short of corrupt! When will you STOP serving corporate America at the expence of the public’s health and our freedoms!
Don’t let this bill suffer by allowing this ‘crap’ to remain, Waxman’s sneaky rider/amendment. In what way does this make sense to be there, do you not find the language involved somewhat suspicious? Why are you not protecting us from this sort of surreptitious usurpation of our personal choice and freedoms, based on no valid argument? Where is the discussion and the disclosure regarding substantiating facts to justify this? In legislation that is related!
Toss this sh*t out! If you believe that this is in our interest, you are mistaken, you are not protecting US, but will be pandering to the big pharmaceutical corporations, isn’t it time to stop?
You guys are fluoridating our water….it’s poison. Now you want to protect us from supplements—no thanks. Keep Waxman’s bill to regulate supplements OUT.
We are sick of all your regulation and frankly the FDA is a total failure. Poison food from China and Mexico should be your main concern….along with all of the drugs that get fast tracked through the FDA which are killing people daily.
We live in one of the most morally bankrupt countries on the face of the earth.
The US used to be the leader of human rights but the tables have turned.
Men in power lack a fear of God. But this is not the world that God intended
thats why it has to come to an end and the ungodly will be destroyed forever so that
the new earth He creates will have no corruption at all. The sooner the better. The creation
is groaning. Its waiting for the redemption of the sons of God.
America is witnessing the encroachment of government into every possible aspect and avenue of access into our daily lives so as to increase it’s take of our resources and restriction of our liberties. Both are anthema to government, which seeks to eventually make thralls of all. Every year of election we put in new blood expecting thngs now to finally get better. Wake up, people! It never gets better. We have to throw out all the bums. We have to get folks in who will scrub the house clean and start from a new constitution based not upon bills and fillibusters and pork-barrel riders, but clear, consistent and briefly understandable statutes, amended only by making simpler and more inclusive of justice and less intrusive of totalitarianism.
Good luck, Senator Waxman, in your efforts to make our food safer!!!!
With the thousands of injuries and deaths that occur every year as a result of conventional health care and drugs, one would think that our legislators such as Henry Waxman would have more worthwhile regulatory work to keep themselves than to continually go after the alternative health and supplement industry. It is either ignorance or lobbyist pac money that keep someone like Henry Waxman continually finding a way to deprive people of their right to alternative and safe methods of treatment with supplements and herbs. In today’s world there is a place for both conventional and natural supplements and herbs. People are finding profound life saving value in their access and use. The industry is already sufficiently regulated. Let’s be ever vigilant and ban together to prevent those who would deny us access to supplements and herbs.
Please remove the anti-supplement language that Rep. Waxman put into the consumer protection bill.
This is highly unethical. It reflects very poorly on Congress members who draft/support this, but above all else the impact on human wellbeing is actually criminal. Controlling free choice is unconstitutional, not just illegal. Anybody who votes for this is asking to be replaced in office and to retire.
PS I want to add:
A) We pay you to uphold, defend and protect the Constution
B) We do *not* pay you to infringe on our rights in a criminal way that affects human health and free choice, that would be ludicrous
C) People depend on naturopathic substances if they cannot tolerate mainstream medication or if they simply want to choose otherwise.
The 14th amendment states:
“No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Representatives and Senators are serving the State as well as the Country. To curtail the availability of naturopathic substances is an infringement on the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, as well as property.
We are in an economic depression, yet Congress is trying to pass a bill which will break an entire industry and put people out of jobs. Nice sign of empathetic concern for others, eh? Some people depend on naturopathics for maintenance of health and even for—god forbid, how dare we say it—-cure. Lack of empathy for others is not a normal state of affairs, and those lacking it do not belong walking the streets, let alone in public office. I leave it up to the general public to question whether or not you are mentally fit to serve in public office. If you don’t care about economic survival and health survival, the answer is that you probably are not.
Stop the sneak tactics !
Leave our supplements alone !
Leave our supplements alone!
I do not want Mr. Waxman’s bill to pass! I would prefer to keep my freedom to purchase the vitamin supplements that I want without having the FTC breathing down my neck.
HR 4173, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act has a provision (Section 4901) that gives the FTC broad powers for rulemaking and enforcement that can be used against a wide variety of industries. It particularly threatens consumer access to vitamins and dietary supplements that we depend upon for our healthe and well being. Under this law, the FTC could disrespect DSEA, our current protective law for freedom to buy dietary supplements.
Take out Section 4901 of this bill to protect our health.
it’s not bad enough that huge drug companies are making a fortune on drugs…..
please do whatever you can to keep them away from the supplements market…
LEAVE OUR SUPPLEMENTS AND VITAMINS, MINERALS ALONE.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. IF THE FOOD WE EAT DOES NOT CONTAIN THESE ESSENTIAL
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO PURCHASE THESE SUPPLEMENTS AND MAKE OUR SELVES HEALTHIER
AND LIVE LONG. I GUESS YOU DO NOT WANT THAT . I AM RETIRED/DISABLED FROM WORKING MY JOB AND THESE WORK. ALL THE FDA PHARMA DRUGS MAKE ME FAT, SICK,
SLEEPY, WEEPY, DEPRESSED. I TRIED FOR 5 YEARS WITH PHARMA AND IT DOES NOT WORK.
GET WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
RAVEN IN UTAH
Please keep Senator Waxman’s language that would destroy the supplement industry out of the bill.
i am against the anti-supplement provision (Section 4901) slipped at the last moment into the House Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (H.R. 4173)
We do not need any more legislation against supplements! Stop pandering to the drug companies, who would love to put healthy supplements out of business. Thank you.
WE’RE GETTING VERY TIRED OF THIS, MR WAXMAN.
WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT HANDS OFF OUR RIGHT TO TAKE VITAMINS. STOP IT.
WE’RE GETTING VERY TIRED OF THIS, MR WAXMAN.
WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT HANDS OFF OUR RIGHT TO TAKE VITAMINS. STOP IT.
Please do not to include Waxman’s dangerous FTC power expansion measure in the Senate version of the Wall Street Reform bill. In fact I think the practice of tacking things onto unrelated bills should be stopped immediately. Sneaks should only be allowed in football games. It is not honest.
Hi as I do believe we should try all the best to separate FDA in a first place saying those days are gone and FDA simply cannot manage food and drug under one umbrella. Food is food it is natural, simple and dont need any scientific researches in order to provide chemical free, iiradiation free, colours, preservatives and all sorts of artificial Es free. The more natural food and food supplements we provide to our customers the less we harm them. Science can be involved in food industry only to find out the mineral and vitamin contents. As drug companies have plenty to investigate, research and prove us that the drug they created is safe.
It is obvious that under the hope of NEW WORLD ORDER the rich want to owe the main resources in the world and make us totally dependent slaves without much health left. HOW anyone can let them to do so when majority of public 99% occupied by working hard in believe there is alright. PLEASE WORK HARD to convince Senate that FOOD and DRUG should stay on the different side of the ocean!
I thought this was the USA and freedom. Noboby has the right to regulate what vitamins I take or my family. Pharma companies are scared, they know natural suppliments work, someone needs to regulate them and put them out of business for making people sick.
Please vote AGAINST the Waxman Vitamin Tax bill coming up in the Senate. This is sneaky, and the American public does NOT want this to happen. You are supposed to be a government OF THE PEOPLE, not OF YOURSELVES, PLEASE LISTEN TO US, DO NOT VOTE FOR THIS BILL.
Thank you,
Anne Pertuset
How dare you try to take control leaving out small helpless children with Autism caused by a Government without a conscious for adding heavy metals to brains in vaccines….what stupidity
and more heavy metals our in the environment in the ground, water and air; including the effects of nuclear testing underground and in the air. These toxic effects are accumulating in the body weakening immune systems and brain function of our youth who all ready have a lessor life span then their parents.
Why ignore the biochemists who have own the Nobel Prizes for their discovery about the human cells and what caues Cancer and Cure Cancers……high all natural food supplement dosages is what heals Cancer…..Supplements is the answer and holistic products to cleanse the body systems. I have been using holistic products and therapies for about 50 years and getting people well from Cancer, Autisim, Ms and restoring brain function to many by recommending quality
food sources produced by organic pesticide free products and from around the world….you will be ruining a global market, too and into countries we have financed to spark their economy and to undo some of the effects of the loss of our rain forrests.
The Mannatech Corporation who introduced glyconutrients from biochemistry science and 25 years of research has been targeted by The Attorney General for getting people consistantly well and even death bed turn around experiences. This is after bringing this information to Congress and as a result Ambrostose was placed in The Physcian’s Desk References.
It is Pharmacutical Companies who are regulating to get their “Phoney” all natural supplements sold in corner markets and drug stores and gas stations that will cause heart attacks and the accumulation of calcium in the joints and also harm kidney’s.
STOP THIS OBVIOUS PLAN TO PROSPER PHARMACUTICAL COMPANY’S MONEY MAKING IDEAS
AND OF COURSE SHARE THE PROFIT WITH THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, TOO.
RECALL HENRY WAXMAN FOR COVERT ACTIONS AGAINST AMERICAN VOTERS!
Any language that restricts my ability to choose the manner in which I approach my own health issues is further fodder for all of us to re-elect no one. do the job you were sent there to do and quit sucking up to companies that want to poison us with their garbage.
Thank you for all that you are doing!
Please remove the backhanded anti-supplement language that slippery Rep. Waxman put into the consumer protection bill.
Drug companies are out for the buck and have proven they have no ethics. Tell Waxman to retire. America wants new people not bought and paid for relics!
Please remove the anti-supplement language that Rep. Waxman put into the consumer protection bill.
Please reconsider seeing this abomination through.People such as myself,depend on various holistic approaches to health.I do not want to be a slave to medications that are full of vile,toxic chemicals.Thank you.
MY SON IS ALIVE TODAY BECAUSE OF THE RESEARCH OF BIOCHEMISTS OF THIS CENTURY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN MONEY FOR NUTRITONAL RESEARCH INCLUDING RECENT STUDIES FROM THE AMERICAN CANCER INSTITUTE RAINBOW DIET FOR CANCER. SUSAN KOLEMAN ALSO HAS STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GO IS TO PREVENT CANCER WITH NUTRITONAL CHOICES AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES.
IT DOES NOT REALLY REQUIRED RESEARCH IT REQUIRES COMMON SENSE AND A UNPOISENED
FOOD SUPPLY.
THE MANNATECH CORPORATION WAS DESTROYED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHEN THE BIOCHEMIST WHO DISCOVERED GLYCONUTRIENTS WON THE NOBAL PRIZE. THIS IS NOT JUNK SCIENCE.
PHARMACUTICAL COMPANIES NEED TO TELL THE TRUTH REGARDING THEIR OWN RESEARCH STUDIES THAT ARE INSUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE WORTHWHILE DRUGS. SHAME ON THEM AND A CONGRESS WHO DOES NOT SUPPORT NATURAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MANY AMERICAN’S ARE CHOOSING BETWEEN FOOD OR MEDICINE BECAUSE THEIR BUDGET DO NOT
COVER BOTH AND INSURNCE COMPANIES DO NOT PAY FOR NATURL MEDICINE OR THERAPY.
SHAME ON THEM AND THE AFDA IF THEY THINGK WALNUTS AND CHERRIES ARE BAD….THEY MUST BE OFF THEIR NUTS.
As long as western medicine’s prices continue to soar into the stratosphere, consumers will continue to look for less expensive alternatives with greater or equal efficacy. It’s not only the nature of the market; it’s human nature. Yet how strange it is when some politicians trumpet the “free market,” but the moment the people act in accordance with it and vote with their wallets for alternative medicine, these same politicians try to thwart them by legislating the market in favor of the big pharmaceutical companies.
I am getting do damn tired of the government aka politicians always trying to force legislation that denies me my freedom to choose for my own health. STAY OUT of supplements!!!!! Can it be made any more clear to you aholes???? Just because you are getting money from special interests for your “work” doesn’t give you the right to take away my freedom of choice. Go find something much more worthy of the money you are being paid by taxpayers for your job. There are many MUCH MORE worthy causes that don’t include taking away America’s freedom.
Do not include the anti supplements language in the bill.
If the Waxman amendment is a good thing, why was it attached to a totally unrelated bill, at the last moment? The fact that this sort of thing is done all the time in Washington is only an excuse for bad behavior, not a good reason to do it. We do not need or want any more government interference in our lives. Leave supplements alone and get on with the real business you were sent to do: protect the American people and defend the constitution. Neither is being done in Washington now. Government IS THE PROBLEM, not the solution. Please work to defeat this bad bill, or at least kill the Waxman amendment.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely, Lowell E Berg
ALL of this crap comes from PROGRESSIVES, who control the democrat party and are currently fighting to keep control of the republican party from Tea Party activists. I am registered republican only to have a chance to keep some of our freedoms alive, not to support the “party”. All Americans need to unite on the Constitution, support State governments and the application of the 10th amendment. We have been sold down the river on issue after issue, and divided on purpose to keep these corrupt politicians in office. I would like to invite democrat voters to start cleaning their party of their government control freaks as we have started to do in the republican party. It’s not easy.
Do not take supplement rights away. This is America. We have the right to choose what type of healthcare we choose to use for ourselves and our families.
Waxman is bought off by big pharma and he needs to go! Other reps like him need the boot too! They don’t care about “We the People”; they only care about the kick-backs lining their pockets.
Sir: Shame on all of you trying to sell us out. Is big pharma a big contributer to your pockets? Big pharma depletes MY pockets. And one very important thing to take back to your “buddies” , there are MORE senior citizens going to the EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TAKING PHARMACEUTICALS THAN THERE ARE TAKING VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS. IT IS ABOUT TIME CONGRESS PUTS THEIR THINKING CAPS ON (USE COMMON SENSE)
I’m a super senior who’s alive and well, thanks to natural supplements. I save the taxpayers money by avoiding pricy/poisonous pharmaceuticals! Don’t let the FTC – or anyone else – dictate how I control my own health! CHOICE IS MY RIGHT!
First of all, I would like to thank the ANH-USA for all of your hard work and for alerting us to these constant threats against our rights to obtain dietary supplements. I would also encourage people to call their state senators in Washington as well as sending them e-mails.
I just can’t believe how little we value human life anymore. What happened that it’s only how much money you can make instead of how can we actually heal that person or first do no harm. Can we ever get back to those principals? No I don’t think big Pharma will let us but we can still try, so please remove any language that Rep Waxman has put into this bill to get rid of supplements. Let us have the freedom to choose which direction we want to go for our health.
Please remove the anti-supplement language that Rep. Waxman put into the consumer protection bill.
I HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON MY HEALTH. HOWEVER, I STILL HAVE A HIGH AMOUNT OF ARSENIC IN ME. AS I TRY TO RID MYSELF OF THIS POISON, IT CONTINUES TO BE REPLACED BY THE FOODS I SO CAREFULLY CHOOSE. THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF ATTEMPTED MURDER BY THE FDA.
Where have all the heroes gone? Long time passing! What is the Waxman add-on doing in this bill anyway? The best approach is to vote out of office politicians such as Waxman and anyone who supports this sneak attack on our natural rights.
Fellow citizens, the best thing we can do is start keeping a close eye on our elected representatives and if one of them votes for such a bill, he doesn’t get re-elected. Trust has to be earned and knowing how our politicians vote will clearly indicate they are just that and do not care to earn the title Statesman.
amen!
Please remove the last minute amendment (Section 4901) in the Wall Street Reform Bill (HR 4173).
Please enforce the 14th amendment. I need and want to have my freedom of choice when it comes to my health and well-being.
Please don’t include that in your law
Please don’t allow the FTA to take away our freedom of choice in health care. Many of us know the great value of quality supplements that in many cases, have allowed us to get off of allopathic pharmaceutical medications that have numerous side effects. Please enforce the14th Amendment and do not pass any legislation that would interfere with our freedom of choice to improve the quality of our health and lives.
Please keep Senator Waxman’s provision out of the bill. I think the individual should be responsible for his or her own health and not Big Pharma. I guess they can’t be happy with the huge amounts we know their already making. “United we stand, divided we fall.”
Keep up all the good job for all concerned.
Thank you!
NO TO WAXMAN’S “SNEAK” ANTI-SUPPLEMENT PROVISION (SECTION 4901) SLIPPED AT THE LAST MOMENT INTO THE HOUSE WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT (HR4173).
WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR HEALTH/TAKE NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS. THE GOVERNMENT AND ALL LEGISLATURES SHOULD NOT INTERFERE OR HAVE ANY CONTROL IN THIS REGARD.
.
This is pushing us further into a ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT NEW WORLD ORDER and the CODEX ALIMENTARIUS that is the ENDGAME OF THIS will classify nutritional supplements and alternative health as “TOXINS” . Other countries are already living under this TYRANNY……….. http://WWW.INFOWARS.COM. GOOGLE: ” ALEX JONES DOCUMENTARIES ”
THE ENDGAME OF ALL THE TYRANNY WE ARE LIVING OTHER IS TO DEPOPULATE THE PLANET BY 85%. FIGHT FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!
Do NOT let any one take away my right to heal myself NATURALLY with supplements. Henry Waxman MUST GO. The pharmaceutical companies MUST GO. DRUGS are making us sick and killing us NOT the supplements! Supplements cured my cancer.
Slowly one by one our right to choice is peeled away. The only alternative “should not” be the cost of a doctors office visit and expensive prescription.
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I am a small business owner “living the American dream” and i am watching our rights being taken away 1 by 1. Small businesses can’t get loans from banks, utility payments are going higher and higher, fuel surcharges are being tacked on to our deliveries because of gas prices and now Waxman would like to just shut my vitamin store down alltogether.
This is an outrage and it must be stopped.
It is very interesting to note that the federal government did not feel it was necessary for the financial industry and the oil industry to have any regulations and the federal immigration laws which should have been enforced so Arizona did not have to take it upon itself to enforce laws that were already on the books, and now all of a sudden we need stricter regulations on the companies which make natural supplements so these companies can be put out of business because the pharmaceutical companies don’t want any competition. This is simply awful and unacceptable. Millions of people, including myself, do not have to take dangerous prescription drugs because natural supplements keep us healthy with no side effects. I think the government needs to focus on regulating the industries which need to be regulated and leave the natural supplement companies alone.
The greedy pharmaceutical companies need to to step aside.
REGULATE SUPPLEMENTS IN AN FTC BILL? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THE FDA IS INCOMPETENT TO REGULATE ANYTHING THESE DAYS! BUT PUTTING THIS IN AN FTC BILL IS PAR FOR THE COURSE THESE DAYS.
STOP THE REGULATING ALREADY! WE’RE REGULATED TO DEATH ALREADY!
I’D SURE LOVE TO HEAR YOUR REASONS FOR IT, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT BIG PHARMA IS LEFT OUT OF THE PROFITS! AND WE ALL KNOW HOW MUCH THEY LOBBY AND PAY POLITICIANS TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.
LEAVE MY SUPPLEMENTS ALONE! STAY OUT OF MY LIFE!
HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WITH THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY, THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR WAXMAN. HOW MUCH HAS BIG PHARMA GIVEN HIM? HE HAS TOOOOO MUCH TIME ON HIS HANDS!
We live in a society with legislators legalizing marijuana and trying to restrict the use of vitamins as dietary supplements. This illustrates that it is all about the profit margin and not about protecting our society. I think that chemo patients should have all that is available on this planet to treat themselves, no questions asked. The same for those of us who want to stay healthy without having to compromise our well being by taking synthesized medications with myriad side effects.
Most Americans lead busy lives and do not get all of the daily recommended and required nutrients to stay healthy. Some of us eat the wrong foods or do not eat enough at all. Supplements fill the gap.
A society as a whole only hurts itself when it blots out an entire industry or scientific freedom of discovery to control competition. Everyone knows that competition is a healthy thing. You can’t stop people from seeking the comfort of herbs and supplements any more that you can stop them from having sex, so stop trying!
Tell Mr. Waxman to worry about more important issues in America…hmmmmmm, let’s see, maybe I could help him out by recommending a few (immigration, economy, jobs, education, Senate term limits, etc). Also tell him to keep his nose out of my vitamin bottles. I like them just the way they are.
According to a March 2, 2009 press release from Representative Henry Waxman (CA) [http://waxman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=115176]] “New GAO Report Finds Need for Additional FDA Oversight of Dietary Supplements”. The press release gives the impression that Waxman’s efforts are in response to problems identified in the GAO report [http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090302/gaoreport.pdf]; however on reading the GAO, it turns-out that the report is in response to specific questions posed by Waxman. Waxman’s attempted to slip (sneak) this new legislation into the Wall Street reform legislation.
The logical implications are that this attack on vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbs is part of a backroom deal that was made with the pharmaceutical industry to gain their support of the recently passed flawed health care reform bill.
There is a major way brewing between the drug industries (including the pharmaceutical industries and much of the AMA) versus the natural health industries (including vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbs, whole foods, alternative health therapies). Pharmaceutical drugs have been shown to be a leading cause of death in the U.S. because of secondary drug reactions, organ failures, etc. Holistic natural health strategies, to the extent that they are effective for an individual, provide safer, healthier and less expensive benefits. The pharmaceutical drug industries would like to have nutritional supplements regulated as drugs to suppress their availability. Since natural products are unpatentable, there is very little likelihood that packagers of these products would be willing to pay the vast amounts of money necessary to get an unpatentable natural ‘drug’ approved. The effect would be to stifle competition from natural products.
So far, each attempt to regulate vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbs as drugs has failed, but the pharmaceutical industries have deep pockets, and there are many people in Congress that they apparently own. If Waxman has become a lackey for the pharmaceutical industries, then it is time to replace him with someone willing to do the people’s business.
Please have Congress especiall,y Rep. Waxman who is also from Los Angeles to read this article. I am glad that I am not in his district because I would consider voting against him even it is on principle.
Sincerely Yours
Tim
Accidental Death From Prescription Drugs
Alternative Medicine Magazine, Issue #25
Accidental death from prescription drugs, even when they are correctly given, is now the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.Before you pop another prescription pill, think carefully. Just because your doctor prescribed it is no guarantee you’ll benefit from it or even emerge unscathed from the experience. That prescription pill could be hazardous to your health – and life.
Ask Stephen Fried.He wishes he could have read his own book, “Bitter Pills: Inside the Hazardous World of Legal Drugs,” (Bantam Books, 1998), before his wife, Diane Ayres, go “floxed” from a bad drug side effect. Diane took a single pill of an antibiotic called Floxin for a urinary tract infection and a few hours later ended up in the emergency room with acute delirium.Serious side effects happen often enough with Floxin, an FDA-approved drug, that those in the know refer to the experience, in a kind of grim flippancy, as getting “all floxed up.”
But for Diane, getting floxed up didn’t end only with a flurry of medical concern and a battery of tests by hospital staff. Floxin triggered her genetic predisposition to neurological illness which then manifested as mood disorders and manic depression. These in turn required a series of “heavy- duty drugs” to undo, says Fried.The experience was a deeply traumatic one for Fried and inspired him to find out how such an event could happen. it turns out it happens a lot.
“An investigative journalist and exasperated husband, I am trying to find out if my wife was the victim of a pharmacological foul- up or just a statistically acceptable casualty of ‘friendly fire’ in the war on disease.” By the time you finish reading Fried’s chilling expose’ of the world of prescription drugs, it’s clear Diane Ayres’ situation was not a foul-up but a friendly fire casualty, one of millions, in fact – business as usual in the world of legal drugs.
Fried learned that well over 100,000 Americans die every year from adverse reactions to prescription drugs and that drug side effects are a leading cause of death in the U.S. (See “The FDA’s Skewed Policies,” this issue, pp 104 – 105.)
The worst thing that can happen to you when you take a legal drug is not that it won’t work, but that you might drop dead, Fried Says. “The next worse is that your body is permanently damaged.”A little further down the list of drug-induced disasters is that you fall into that seemingly endless “cascade of prescribing” where you need a half dozen strong drugs to undo the side effects of the first one, and then a lot of time to recover from the effects of all of them, as Diane Ayres learned the hard way.Let’s enlarge our perspective a little and look at the scope of prescription drug sales and adverse drug reactions in the U.S.
We’re talking about an $85-billion-a-year U.S. market for pharmaceuticals, based on 1996 data. Coupled to this figure is a steady yearly rise in consumer prices for the top 500 prescription drugs at a rate that exceeds inflation.
The hidden cost of this drug “bonanza” is only beginning to emerge. New studies show that mistakes in drug prescribing and side effects from prescription drugs cost at least $76 billion a year (and could be as high as $136 billion, according to other estimates) in extra medical costs. The largest factor contributing to the additional cost is adverse drug effects requiring hospitalization. These mistakes may also double the risk of death.Remember, Fried’s data deals with correctly prescribed drugs; you have to add to this the costs and consequences of incorrectly prescribed medications.
The misuse of prescription drugs, leading to injury and death, represents a “serious medical problem” that “urgently” requires attention, according to “Archives of Internal Medicine.”To put this in perspective, in 1994, the year this data was collected, Americans spent over $73 billion on prescription drugs. This averages out to $292 per person to buy the drugs and an additional $306 to treat the adverse effects of using these drugs. The math is simple: that’s about $600 for every American man, woman, and child in the U.S.A new study of 1,580 cases tracked at a single hospital over a year shows that adverse drug events (ADEs) were involved in 2.4 per 100 admissions, producing an additional hospital stay of 1.9 days, costing $2,262, and increasing the risk of death by 1.88 – a nearly twofold increase. Out of 91,574 patients admitted to a single hospital over a three-year period, 2.43% (2,227) experienced ADEs.
According to the study, ADEs may account for 140,000 deaths per year in the U.S.A six-month study tracking 4,108 admissions at two hospitals reported similar results. There were 247 ADEs among 207 admissions (some people had several ADEs), requiring an average of 2.2 extra days of hospitalization at a cost of $3,244 per person. For ADEs that were judged to be preventable, 4.6 extra hospital days per person were required, costing $4,685. The estimated average cost attributable to both types of ADEs for a typical 700-bed hospital is $8.4 million per year.
A third study indicated the types of prescribing errors doctors typically commit, based on data collected over a year from a 631-bed hospital. Pharmacists reviewed 2,103 prescribing errors and found that the error rate was 3.99 per 1,000 drug prescriptions. Among these, 12% of the errors involved overlooking patient allergy to the type of drug, 11% were due to incorrect dosages, and another 11% to using the wrong drug name.In yet another study, researchers reported that about 30% of the prescribing errors were due to lack of knowledge regarding drug therapy, 29% to lack of knowledge regarding patient interactions with drugs, 17% to arithmetic mistakes, and 13% to using the wrong drug name.
The error rate was highest (5.89 ADEs per 1,000 prescriptions) for pediatric patients, followed by 5.05 for emergency-room patients, 4.5 for obstetrics-gynecology, and 3.5 for surgical patients. Prescribing an overdose was the most common error, accounting for 41.8% of all mistakes.The pattern of damages, even deaths, created by dangerous drug interactions is already repeating itself in the case of Viagra, the impotence drug released in April 1998 by Pfizer, Inc., of New York. In its first month on the market, 1.7 million prescriptions were filled for the pill promising relief from erectile dysfunction.Yet soon after, 16 deaths occurred in users of Viagra, presumably from fatal drug interactions.
Specifically, drugs given for heart pain (angina), such as nitroglycerin-based nitrate drugs, seemed to produce the most dangerous interaction with Viagra. In fact, there are at least 41 different nitroglycerin formulations or nitrate-based drugs that are believed to make a deadly combination with Viagra.With these facts in mind, it’s easier to understand the shock, outrage, and urge to find an alternative that inspired Fried both to help his wife heal from the bad effects of Floxin and to write his book.Fried also got a formidable political education in the course of his research. He began to see how and where the power is stacked up in the world of legal drugs and how little science and how much marketing and political influence have to do with medical care in conventional medicine.
It’s a power play on a global scale, Fried says.Drug companies are merging and in turn buying firms that decide which drugs the HMOs will get, says Fried. The drug companies are controlling the flow of information about the medicines to doctors and the public; they’re directing the allocation of funds for drug research and physician education; and they’re going after the consumers directly in a massive advertising campaign to stir up interest in their latest products.Fried’s revelations are sobering. If you thought illegal drugs was the major drug problem, you’ll look at “the other drug problem” – legal drugs – far more critically after reading “Bitter Pills.”
Passivity and lack of knowledge in the face of prescription drugs could cost you your life.”Understanding drug reactions has been a way to explore what is wrong with the entire international pharmaceutical business – a $250 billion enterprise ($700 billion if you count all the other products sold by drug companies) that has managed to repel scrutiny more effectively than almost any other major industry, while remaining the world’s most profitable industry through many changes in economic climate,” says Fried.
Presiding over this global drug cover-up is the FDA, an agency responsible for “regulating 25% of America’s entire gross national product and whose policies are the benchmark for world regulation of drugs and medical devices,” says Fried. If this information is new to you, by the time you finish his report, your eyes will be wide open and you may feel angry enough to take political action. You certainly will think very hard before you automatically take that next drug.The point is, his wife’s bad drug reaction – it took her four years to recover from it – could happen to anyone who takes a prescription drug. One doctor told Fried that antibiotics, the second most commonly used class of drugs in the world, are improperly prescribed 40% to 50% of the time, due to wrong dose, wrong duration, wrong drug. “Apparently everyone in medicine knows this except the patients,” says Fried. Now you do, thanks to Fried.
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I have read lots of information lately about this suject of controling supplements.
Many articles seem to think this is a push to give control to the World Trade Organization much
like they didin the E.U. I hear that vit “C” and many others are now limited in dose and are illegal in some parts of Europe.
Sounds like someone is pounding the halls of Congress or working for the World Trade folks. Why would any one ( in their right mind ) want to limit convential Health Care Meds and also take away our only other source of medication, which in many cases works as well as or better than convential meds, with little or no side effects.