Show your support for HB 2882, Oregon's GE Liability Bill! The hearing from Wednesday, May 8th is continuing on Monday, May 13th. We need farmers, business owners, organizations, seed breeders, and local food system lovers (you!) to submit written testimony for the upcoming hearing.
We've drafted a template for you to use below, along with instructions on how to submit your testimony. Please copy and paste this template into your email program and consider adding your own words, or just keep it as is. You can also view our talking points here.
In addition to sending your testimony to the committee, please email your Representative and Senator asking them to support HB 2882. Click here to find your representatives and copy their email addresses. Both templates are below.
- All testimony will be posted on OLIS, and becomes part of the public record.
- If you don’t want your email included in the public record, submit your testimony as an attachment, not in the body of an email.
EMAIL TEMPLATE FOR HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE
Send an email to: [email protected]Subject: Testimony in Support of HB 2882
Dear Chair Holvey and Members of the Committee:My name is [your name]. I am a [seed grower/farmer/business owner/community member/local food lover] in [your city]. I am writing to request your support for HB 2882.
HB 2882 was written to create patent holder or manufacturer liability for genetically engineered (GE) contamination events in Oregon. Over the past decade, GE contamination events, and threats of contamination, have cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars—including Oregon farmers—in rejected sales, lost exports, and closed agricultural markets.
Oregon is one of the top 5 seed growing regions in the world. The specialty seed industry is valued at $400 million and the vegetable specialty seed contained within that is worth $50 million annually. Actual and potential GE contamination threatens this industry.
Oregon farmers lack protections from GE contamination because Oregon does not regulate GE crops. Further, with the exception of Jackson County, all Oregon counties are preempted from making decisions regarding seed cultivation in their jurisdictions, leaving a large regulatory gap.
While I ultimately want to see patent holders and manufacturers held responsible for GE pollen drift contamination so farmers aren’t pitted against farmers, I support legislation that calls for the regulation of GE crops in Oregon.
Thank you for the consideration and for your service.
[Your Signature]
EMAIL TEMPLATE FOR YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR
Send an email to: your local Representative, and SenatorSubject: Testimony in Support of HB 2882
Dear [your Representative's name], and [your Senator's name]:My name is [your name]. I am a [seed grower/farmer/business owner/community member/local food lover] in [your city]. I am writing to request your support for HB 2882.
HB 2882 was written to create patent holder or manufacturer liability for genetically engineered (GE) contamination events in Oregon. Over the past decade, GE contamination events, and threats of contamination, have cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars—including Oregon farmers—in rejected sales, lost exports, and closed agricultural markets.
Oregon is one of the top 5 seed growing regions in the world. The specialty seed industry is valued at $400 million and the vegetable specialty seed contained within that is worth $50 million annually. Actual and potential GE contamination threatens this industry.
Oregon farmers lack protections from GE contamination because Oregon does not regulate GE crops. Further, with the exception of Jackson County, all Oregon counties are preempted from making decisions regarding seed cultivation in their jurisdictions, leaving a large regulatory gap.
While I ultimately want to see patent holders and manufacturers held responsible for GE pollen drift contamination so farmers aren’t pitted against farmers, I support legislation that calls for the regulation of GE crops in Oregon.
Thank you for the consideration and for your service.
[Your Signature]