Congresswoman from Utah steps up as co-chair of dietary supplement caucus
Mia Love replaces Jason Chaffetz, who retired from Congress in June.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz's recent retirement from Congress deprived the dietary supplement industry of a once-powerful ally on Capitol Hill.
In a move that could help to soften the blow to industry, Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah) has stepped up to assume a leadership role in Congress that Chaffetz previously held: co-chair of the Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus (DSC). Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah, retired from Congress in June and is now a contributor to Fox News.
Love joins three other lawmakers as co-chairs of the DSC: Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colorado), as well as Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico).
Established in 2006, the 32-member DSC plays an important role in raising the profile of the US$41 billion dietary supplement industry. As a bipartisan congressional group of legislators, the DSC fosters discussions among lawmakers about the benefits of dietary supplements, according to the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) and United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA).
The DSC also provides insights and tips for better health and wellness, and it promotes research about the health care cost savings that supplements provide, the four trade groups noted in a joint press release announcing Love’s new leadership position.
Mike Greene, senior vice president of government relations with CRN, described the DSC as a forum for members of Congress who have an interest in dietary supplements.
Greene explained industry can take issues of importance to the caucus, such as legislation that would enable individuals on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to purchase multivitamins with their benefits. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Michigan) is expected to introduce such a bill in the early fall, and industry representatives are working to secure co-sponsors on the legislation.