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Graves Votes for Personal Responsibility

Date: Oct. 20, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Agriculture and Food


Graves Votes for Personal Responsibility
Thursday, October 20, 2005

House Bill Protects Food Industry from Frivolous Lawsuits

(Washington, D.C) U.S. Congressman Sam Graves voted this week to bring personal responsibility back into America's dining establishments. H.R. 554-The Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act passed the House by a wide margin (310-114) underscoring its bipartisan support. The act prohibits obesity or weight gain claims against the food industry.

"Restaurants should not be liable for their customers overeating," said Graves. "These kinds of frivolous lawsuits could drive local mom and pop businesses right out of business."

The legislation though does not prevent a food vendor from being sued if it breaks the law. For instance, suits involving tainted food or false information on a packaging label would still be allowed. The food service industry employees 12 million people making it the largest private sector employer.

"In the end these frivolous lawsuits do nothing but drive up the cost for consumers," said Graves. "We should hold ourselves responsible for our own eating habits."

H.R. 554 now heads to the United States Senate.

http://www.house.gov/graves/newsroom/102005a.htm

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