Dear Nancy,

Knowing your interest in dietary
supplement issues, I wanted to update you on
legislation pending in Congress that will be
of interest to you.

Science is increasingly validating the
role dietary supplements play in maintaining
health and preventing illness. Dietary
supplements can be a cost-effective,
alternative means to prevent diseases in
ways comparable to over-the-counter (OTC)
drugs. That is why I am cosponsoring H.R.
1107, the Dietary Supplement and Healthy
Meal Replacement Tax Parity Act. This bill
amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify
dietary supplements and meal replacement
products authorized by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) as tax deductible
medical expenses. This bill would allow
taxpayers to be reimbursed with funds from
their health savings accounts (HAS) for the
purchase of these products, just as they are
currently able to do for purchase of OTC
products like aspirin.

H.R. 1107 is currently before the
Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee
on Health, of which I am a member. I look
forward to working with my colleagues to
pass this important piece of legislation.

As always, I encourage your input on
dietary supplements and any other issues of
concern to you.

Stay in touch,
/s
BART GORDON
Member of Congress

H.R. 1107