Lawmakers Re-Launch Dietary Supplement Caucus in 119th Congress

The Dietary Supplement Caucus is being reintroduced to the 119th Congress by Reps. Mike Kennedy (R-UT-3) and Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), who will serve as co-chairs. As a formally registered Congressional Member Organization, the caucus provides a platform for lawmakers to engage on science, regulation, and public health roles of dietary supplements.

The caucus serves as a bipartisan forum for members of Congress and their staff to hear from scientific experts, healthcare practitioners, and industry stakeholders. Briefings where the caucus serves as honorary co-host will provide up-to-date information on issues affecting the supplement sector, helping to inform policymaking.

In their filing to the House Committee on Administration, Kennedy and Veasey noted that the group’s purpose was to “discuss … the benefits of dietary supplements, provide tips and insights for better health and wellness, and to promote research into the healthcare savings these products provide.”

Policy areas likely to be discussed include modernizing the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), expanding the eligibility of dietary supplements under Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and supporting increased FDA resources for oversight and enforcement.

“Utah has played a major role in the dietary supplement industry, and that leadership deserves to be represented in Congress,” said Kennedy, in a statement issued jointly by the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), and Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA). “This caucus is a way to support thoughtful discussion around health while ensuring people have the freedom and information they need to make choices that work for them without being burdened by unnecessary regulatory hurdles.”

“The Dietary Supplement Caucus provides a unique opportunity for bipartisan cooperation on issues that matter to millions of Americans. From public education to regulatory transparency, this forum will help Congress engage more meaningfully with an industry that touches households across the country,” said Veasey, in the same statement.