Retired Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) has been a champion for American health and wellness for the three decades he served in the U.S. congress and afterward with his foundation The Harkin Institute. Among his achievements include co-writing and co-sponsoring the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the law that regulates dietary supplement manufacturing and marketing in the United States.

At this year’s American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) member meeting in Anaheim, California, Sen. Harkin gave a speech and was also awarded the AHPA Lifetime Achievement Award.

After the meeting, Sen. Harkin discussed the legacy of DSHEA, including balancing interests when the law passed, the law’s implementation and addressing industry critics with INSIDER’s editor in chief Sandy Almendarez.

Learn more about Sen. Harkin in these INSIDER resources:

Learn more about DHSEA in INSIDER’s documentary “DSHEA: The Rest of the Story.”