WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the United States Congress as follows:

WHEREAS,  Section 8 of H.R. 1919, "An Act to Amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act," allows prescription drug manufacturers to decide to supply drug information labels only by electronic means, as opposed to the paper labels currently accompanying prescription drugs upon receipt; and

WHEREAS,  a similar provision is not contained in the United States Senate's version of the bill; and

WHEREAS,  the United States Congress addressed electronic labeling in 2012 and directed the United States Government Accountability Office to study the potential advantages and associated risks of this labeling and the results of the study are due to be released in July 2013; and

WHEREAS,  Congress should await the results of the study it ordered to be undertaken before passing legislation that would require critical medical information, such as information on dangerous side effects and contraindications, to be made available to health care professionals and prescription drug consumers only by electronic means; and

WHEREAS,  Maine would be disproportionately negatively affected by Section 8 of H.R. 1919; and

WHEREAS,  as of 2011, 16.3% of Maine's population was over 65 years of age, compared to only 13.3% for the nation as a whole; and

WHEREAS,  due to its geography, climate and highly dispersed and rural population, significant areas of Maine do not have reliable access to the Internet; and

WHEREAS,  Maine relies on the forest products industry to create and maintain jobs and sustainably manage Maine's forests, and that industry would be negatively affected by Section 8 of H.R. 1919 without further study of the effects; now, therefore, be it