Washington, DC - Today, the House passed H.R. 2749, the “Food Safety Enhancement Act” by a vote of 283-142.  The bipartisan bill will better ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply by improving inspections and oversight of the food we eat. The Food Safety Enhancement Act gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) increased authority and resources needed to prevent food-borne illnesses from occurring. Specifically, the bill will:

• Prevent food safety problems before they occur by requiring food facilities to have safety plans in place to identify and mitigate hazards;
• Increase the frequency of FDA inspections of food facilities;
• Provide strong, flexible enforcement tools, including mandatory recall, stronger penalties for bad actors, administrative detention, and subpoena authority;
• Provide FDA tools to ensure imported products meet US safety standards;
• Significantly expand FDA traceback capabilities in the event of an outbreak of foodborne illness; and
• Most importantly, generate the resources needed to support FDA food safety activities. 

The Food Safety Enhancement Act is the result of bipartisan collaboration between members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, where the bill passed by voice vote, and negotiations with Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN07) and Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI12).  Members made the following comments on the bill:

Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO01), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce: “Many of us have been talking about comprehensive food safety for years. Our nation's business community is calling for it. Our constituents are begging for it.  This historic bipartisan legislation will transform our food system into one that focuses on prevention rather than reaction. It will give the FDA new authorities, such as mandatory recall authority and traceability, to protect consumers from outbreaks of contamination in food.”

Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15), author of H.R. 2749: “Over the past two years we have seen issues of melamine in infant formula; tainted peppers from Mexico; harmful seafood from China; and E. coli in spinach.  Each year, 76 million people contract a foodborne illness in the United States.  According to CDC, about 5,000 die.  The Food and Drug Administration—the Agency responsible for regulating about 80% of the food supply—has been expected to adequately protect American consumers with outdated authorities and woefully inadequate funding.  H.R. 2749 has the support of consumer groups, food safety groups, and industry groups.  It is a monumental piece of bipartisan legislation that will grant FDA the authorities and resources needed to effectively oversee an increasingly global food marketplace.

“I want to thank all my colleagues on the Committee for what they’ve done here, including Ranking Member Barton, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Deal and Mr. Walden, for their fine work on this bipartisan effort.”

Congressman Collin Peterson (D-MN07), Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture: “H.R. 2749 as passed by the House protects livestock and grain producers from unintended consequences originally found in the bill and improves food safety in areas where better regulation is badly needed. We have been able to move this legislation in a direction that supports American agriculture, while also boosting food safety and consumer confidence.”

Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ06), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee: "We must do more to improve the food safety system, we have to do a better job of keeping our food products free of contamination.  We get more food from the farm to the dinner table faster and cheaper than ever. But when the safety system comes up short, consumers are exposed to illness and even death. We have the knowledge and ability to make the food system safer, this bill will provide the resources and the standards to get the job done."

Congressman Bart Stupak (D-MI01), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee: “H.R. 2749 is the product of extensive hearings, investigations and negotiations.  I hope the Senate will now act quickly to pass this bill so President Obama can sign it into law.  Without reform it’s not a matter of if but when the next outbreak will occur.”

Congressman Henry A. Waxman (D-CA30), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee: “Today the House has passed a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that will bring desperately needed reform to our nation’s food safety system.  By modernizing FDA’s outdated authorities and requiring the food industry to do a better job policing the safety of the food it produces, this legislation will help to prevent food borne illness outbreaks before they occur.  This is the kind of legislative achievement that ought to give Americans confidence that Congress can respond in an effective, bipartisan way to solve urgent problems.”

Contacts: Kristofer Eisenla (DeGette) 202.225.4431, Adam Benson (Dingell) 202.225.4071, Tali Israeli (Pallone) 202.225.4671, April Demert Slayton (Peterson) 202.225.6872, Michelle Begnoche (Stupak) 202.225.4735, Karen Lightfoot/Caren Auchman (Waxman) 202.225.5735

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