WASHINGTON — Senators Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced on June 10 an industry and consumer-backed agreement on a uniform national standard for chain restaurants that would provide consumers throughout the U.S. with a wide range of nutrition information at the point of purchase.

"We thank the Senators for their bipartisan leadership and for recognizing the importance of legislation that meets the needs of both the restaurant industry and our customers," said Dawn Sweeney, president and chief executive officer of the National Restaurant Association on the bipartisan Senate agreement on a national nutrition information standard. "N.R.A. looks forward to working with Congress to enact this legislation, which provides caloric information on the menu and additional information, such as sodium and carbohydrates, in other accessible formats.

"We know the importance of providing consumers with the information they want and need in a consistent format no matter where they are across the country," Ms. Sweeney added. "This legislation would replace varying state and local ordinances with a national standard that empowers consumers to make choices that are best for themselves and their families.

"The National Restaurant Association has led an industry-wide coalition that worked proactively with key stakeholders to provide a uniform approach that gives consumers one more way to live a healthy and active life," she concluded.