The U.S. House of Representatives this week voted to require the labeling of foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients, “clearing the bill’s final obstacle before it heads to the White House, where President Obama is expected to sign it into law.”

That’s according to this report in the The New York Times.

The legislation passed by a vote of 306-117.

Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii voted against the measure.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

The Democrat and several colleagues issued a statement after the vote, saying the bill creates “a new, weaker mandatory federal labeling standard for foods containing genetically engineered ingredients.”

In a press release, Gabbard said in part:

“People shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to know what’s in their food If S.764 was truly intended to expand consumers’ right to know, it would require a clear, straightforward, and easy-to-read food labeling standard. Instead, it creates a system of electronic codes, symbols, and text that are confusing to consumers, making them work harder to access information that should be readily available. This bill also leaves many common foods out of labeling requirements, and lacks any enforcement measures to hold companies accountable. …

Hawaii’s other Democrat in the House, Mark Takai, did not vote.

Last week, Hawaii’s two Democrats in the U.S. Senate split their vote on the same measure, with Mazie Hirono voting in favor and Brian Schatz voting against.