The Monsanto Story

On March 26, 2013, H.R. 933: Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 was signed by President Obama and became Public Law No: 113-6.

The bill was passed in the House of Representatives on Mar 06, 2013 with a vote of; 267/151 - and by the US Senate on Mar 20, 2013 with a vote of 73/26.

The stated purpose of the bill was to once again, avoid a government shutdown and fund the federal government for another six months.

With this bill, the American multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, Monsanto, used their political connections - in this case it was Republican Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri - to sneak in a Rider (a tactic to pass a controversial provision that would not pass as its own bill), that would protect Monsanto from litigation, in regards to their genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically engineered seeds and crops, even if their consumption of such is found to pose health risks.

The Rider, now known as The Monsanto Protection Act, is found in Section 735 of the Appropriations Act of 2013:

Sec. 735. In the event that a determination of non-regulated status made pursuant to section 411 of the Plant Protection Act is or has been invalidated or vacated, the Secretary of Agriculture shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon request by a farmer, grower, farm operator, or producer, immediately grant temporary permit(s) or temporary deregulation in part, subject to necessary and appropriate conditions consistent with section 411(a) or 412(c) of the Plant Protection Act, which interim conditions shall authorize the movement, introduction, continued cultivation, commercialization and other specifically enumerated activities and requirements, including measures designed to mitigate or minimize potential adverse environmental effects, if any, relevant to the Secretary’s evaluation of the petition for non-regulated status, while ensuring that growers or other users are able to move, plant, cultivate, introduce into commerce and carry out other authorized activities in a timely manner:Provided, That all such conditions shall be applicable only for the interim period necessary for the Secretary to complete any required analyses or consultations related to the petition for non-regulated status: Provided further, That nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the Secretary’s authority under section 411, 412 and 414 of the Plant Protection Act.

How Did This Happen?
Many politicos on both sides of the aisle have come out against the Monsanto Protection Act (now that it's law). One such politician is U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) - who also happens to be the Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, which would be in charge of overseeing such a bill. But as has been the common theme with elected officials in the past few years; Sen. Mikulski found herself in a position in which she had to compromise on many of her own priorities to get a bill through the Senate that the House would pass (Full Statement).