Caucus Leaders Look For More Supplement Supporters On The Hill
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
A leader of the congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus says it is time for younger lawmakers to step up in defense of the industry
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A leader of the congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus says it is time for younger lawmakers to step up in defense of the industry. Rep. Jason Chaffetz singled out the work of fellow Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, a chief author of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act and a known champion for the industry, but signaled a need for new blood. "I think we do need another generation of members of Congress to start to embrace these issues," the freshman congressman said at a June 3 briefing on Capitol Hill. Chaffetz presented himself as a veteran of the supplement and personal care product industry, having worked for Nu Skin Enterprises after graduating from Brigham Young University. He said he served more than four years as managing director of marketing and product development for the Provo, Utah-based firm, which manufactures Nu Skin and Pharmanex brand products. "You don't need to explain to me about how [DSHEA] works, and the development and the marketing and production of dietary supplements. I get it, I've lived it," Chaffetz said. Chaffetz won his seat in the 2008 elections after defeating former Rep. Chris Cannon, another supplement advocate, in a Republican primary. Rep. Jared Polis, another freshman co-chair of the caucus (see chart: " 1 Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus Membership "), said supplements should have a place in the ongoing health care reform conversation. "Prevention is the most cost-effective initiative to contain costs in health care [and] dietary supplements are an important part of prevention," the Colorado Democrat said. Council for Responsible Nutrition President Steve Mister said industry leaders seek legislation to expand access to supplements and "continue to push" for food stamp coverage of the products. Vitamins were omitted from the food stamp program included in the 2008 federal farm programs reauthorization bill after being included in the Senate version (2 (Also see "Farm Bill Grows Herbal Crop Support, But No Vitamins In Food Stamp Program" - Pink Sheet, 19 May, 2008.), p. 11). - Dan Schiff ([email protected]) |