The Biggest Overhaul of Our Food Safety System In 70 Years is Finally Heading to the President’s Desk
Washington, DC - Today, Dean of the United States House of Representatives, John D. Dingell spoke on the House floor to lead the House in its final passage of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. This historic vote on the landmark reform, which he authored and fought for, overhauls the nation’s food safety system; improves the capacity of FDA and manufacturers to prevent food safety problems; and empowers FDA to detect and immediately respond to food-borne illness outbreaks. The bill passed by a vote of 215 to 144. Below are his remarks:
“Madame Speaker. I rise today in strong support of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation with deliberate speed.
“Madame Speaker, consideration of this bill today is what I hope will be the final step of a long legislative journey. My colleagues in this body passed similar legislation last July. Some 17 months later, we are working on the same issue.
“The legislative fits and starts is in no way a reflection of the policy, however, the legislation has been the hostage of political games and procedural missteps. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act serves a necessary and admirable purpose—it will go a long way in boosting American consumer confidence in the safety of the nation’s food supply. The many recalls that have confronted American consumers over the years—peanuts, melamine in milk, spinach, eggs—has called into question the ability of the government to adequately protect American consumers. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act addresses this concern head on and grants the Food and Drug Administration—the Agency with oversight of 80% of the nation’s food supply—the authorities and resources it needs to effectively do its job.
“Among other things, the legislation will create a new focus on prevention, and a shared responsibility between FDA and food manufacturers to keep the food supply safe. It will require manufacturers to implement preventive systems to stop outbreaks before they occur; require FDA to inspect food facilities—foreign and domestic—more frequently; grant FDA new authority to ensure that imported foods meet US safety standards; and grant FDA new enforcement tools, including mandatory recall authority, authority to detain tainted product, and protection for employees who uncover food safety violations.
“Madame Speaker, enactment of this legislation is long overdue and necessary—necessary for the millions of Americans who suffer from food borne illness each year, and the thousands who die from it each year. I strongly support the legislation before us today and urge my colleagues to cast an aye vote. I yield back the balance of my time.”
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