A bill to keep states from issuing their own mandatory labeling laws for foods made with genetically modified ingredients sailed through the Senate on Thursday despite pushback from Democrats.

The bill, which passed 63-30, directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a national labeling standard within two years that requires food producers to use text, symbols or QR codes consumers can scan with a smartphone to find out if a product contains genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.

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The late-night vote came after Democrats wore out the procedural clock and blocked Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOcasio-Cortez to voters: Tell McConnell 'he is playing with fire' with Ginsburg's seat McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Video shows NYC subway station renamed after Ruth Bader Ginsburg MORE (R-Ky.) from scheduling votes earlier Thursday.

Though hailed as a bipartisan agreement in the national debate over GMO labeling, the legislation outraged Democrats.

“The idea that people would need to walk around the grocery store scanning product codes just to find out what’s in the food they’re buying is ridiculous and unfair,” Sen. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Top GOP senator calls for Biden to release list of possible Supreme Court picks MORE (D-Ill.) said while debating the bill on the floor Thursday. “Food companies should not be able to hide behind confusing coded labels that conceal their products’ ingredients.”

The Center for Food Safety argued that QR codes discriminate against low-income, rural and elderly people, as well as a disproportionately high number of minority Americans that don’t have smartphones or Internet access.

But Sen. Thom Tillis Thomas (Thom) Roland TillisMcConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight Will Republicans' rank hypocrisy hinder their rush to replace Ginsburg? Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE (R-N.C.) argued that QR codes are commonplace and easy to use.

“So for those who say this is some sort of weird code or outdated, I don't know about you all but that's not the world that I live in,” he said.

McConnell called the legislation a "compromise bill that would protect middle-class families from unnecessary and unfair higher food prices while also ensuring access to information about the food they purchase."

"It's the result of bipartisan work to address an issue that could negatively harm consumers and procedures," he added.

Before a procedural vote to advance the legislation Wednesday, Democrats criticized their colleagues across the aisle for rushing the bill to the floor for a vote.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Graham signals support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee this year Trump signals he will move to replace Ginsburg 'without delay' MORE (Nev.) said lawmakers should have had the opportunity to discuss the bill in committee first.

“We owe it, as a body to the American people, to give this legislation proper consideration,” he said. “We should not stand for Republican leaders jamming this legislation through the Senate.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersNYT editorial board remembers Ginsburg: She 'will forever have two legacies' Two GOP governors urge Republicans to hold off on Supreme Court nominee Sanders knocks McConnell: He's going against Ginsburg's 'dying wishes' MORE (I-Vt.), who backed a failed effort to pigeonhole the GMO bill, called it a "simple truth" that consumers should know what's in their food.

"People have the right to know what is in the food they eat and when parents go to the store and purchase food, they have the right to know what is in the food their kids are going to be eating," he said.

Democrats who voted for the legislation said they were doing so in line with scientific findings.

“I urge my colleagues to stop denying science and start understanding GMO ingredients are just as healthy for American consumers as any other ingredient,” said Sen. Heidi Heitkamp Mary (Heidi) Kathryn HeitkampCentrists, progressives rally around Harris pick for VP 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents Susan Collins set to play pivotal role in impeachment drama MORE (D-N.D.).

But Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the labeling debate is not over whether GMOs are safe or unsafe.

“The labeling would not be in any way a warning to consumers,” he said. “It would be informational only. The debate here and the objective of this measure is to provide information as dispassionately, clearly and objectively as possible. That’s the goal.”