Congressional Leaders, Supplement Industry Executives Meet at 2016 Day on the Hill

Representative John Shimkus (R-Il) speaks to dietary supplement industry executives at CRN’s 2016 Day on the Hill. Image provided by CRN.

More than 60 executives from the dietary supplement industry turned out in Washington, DC last week to meet with congressional leaders and discuss pressing issues facing the industry. The industry’s 13^th annual Day on the Hill, organized by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, DC), included executives from more than 40 CRN member companies.

“CRN’s Day on the Hill provides an important opportunity for dietary supplement industry executives to have in-depth, face-to-face conversations with key legislators and their staff on issues critical to the industry and to the more than 150 million Americans who take supplements,” said Mike Green, vice president of government relations at CRN.

CRN member company executives, (L-R) Sam Michini, Delavau, LLC; Randy King, The Procter & Gamble Company; and Carolyn Sabatini, Pharmavite LLC, meet with staff in the office of Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Dietary Supplement Caucus member, during CRN’s Day on the Hill. Image provided by CRN.

The supplement industry’s big day on Capitol Hill took place on June 8-the same day that CRN released a new economic impact report indicating the industry contributes nearly $122 billion to the U.S. economy and creates 754,645 jobs nationwide. In addition to sharing results of this report with members of Congress, CRN and its members also presented on new plans to create an industry-wide dietary supplement product registry.

CRN’s 2016 Day on the Hill included more than 60 individual meetings with key House and Senate offices, during which supplement industry representatives encouraged legislators to support and fund FDA’s new Office of Dietary Supplement Programs (ODSP). Industry participants also spoke with legislators about the importance of including multivitamins in the Women, Infant, Children (WIC) special supplemental program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

On top of the individual meetings, several members of congress spoke before the industry executives in attendance during the full-day event, including Representatives Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Jared Polis (D-CO), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and John Shimkus (R-IL), as well as Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). Natural medicine and health expert Michael Murray, ND, also presented on the latest scientific developments relating to essential nutrients as part of a Dietary Supplement Caucus briefing.

“As always, we are grateful to those on Capitol Hill who took time out of their busy schedules to speak with our member companies regarding important matters surrounding the industry,” Greene said. “The success of our industry hinges on frank, clear, and fruitful discussion with members of Congress. We are pleased that this year’s Day on the Hill achieved this on so many levels and [we] look forward to more dialogue and collaboration in the future.”

Michael Murray, ND, serves as featured speaker during a Dietary Supplement Caucus briefing. Image provided by CRN. 

Read more:

Supplement Industry Contributes $122 Billion to U.S. Economy, CRN Reports

CRN Moves to Create Industry-Wide Product Registry for Dietary Supplements

Senator Criticizes “Loophole” in Self-Affirmed GRAS System

Michael Crane
Associate Editor
Nutritional Outlook Magazine
michael.crane@ubm.com