Washington, DC - Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) the author of H.R. 2749, the “Food Safety Enhancement Act”, will vote in favor of H.R. 2997, the “Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010.” This legislation will protect Americans’ food safety, boost rural economies, protect Americans against price fluctuations for necessities and help feed struggling families. Below are Congressman Dingell’s remarks prepared for delivery on the House floor:

“I rise today in support of H.R. 2997, the Agriculture Appropriations Act for FY2010. This bill makes strong investments in our food nutrition and assistance programs by increasing funding to $61.4 billion for the food stamp program and $180 million to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, increases that are critical during these tough economic times. H.R. 2997 also increases resources for the Agriculture Research Service to $1.2 billion and provides $1.3 billion for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, both of which have served the farmers of Michigan’s 15th District well. Most importantly, this bill significantly boosts funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service.

“In recent years it has become abundantly clear that our food safety system is broken. We have struggled to address and prevent such problems as melamine in infant formula, tainted peppers, salmonella in our peanuts and E. Coli in spinach. Further, the Government Accountability Office has designated federal oversight of food safety as a high risk area bringing to light the fact that each year 76 million people contract a foodborne illness in the United States of which 325,000 end up requiring hospitalization and 5,000 perish. The warnings continue to mount, yet action still waits.

“The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, of which I am Chairman Emeritus, has been diligently and closely studying the subject of food safety for years. We have found that FDA’s funding is woefully inadequate and their authorities are outdated. As a result, they have been incapable of protecting our food supply, placing individuals, including many children, at risk. Today’s bill will increase funding for FDA to $2.9 billion, an increase of $373 million over 2009. The bill also increases funding for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to more than $1 billion, an increase of over $47 million over 2009.

“I applaud Chairman Obey and Chairwoman DeLauro for these increases, as well as the Administration for recognizing that a strong food supply system depends on strong oversight. H.R. 2997 is a first step towards improving the resources at FDA, for I have found during my time in Congress that the only way to adequately address the issue of resources is to ensure a steady, predictable revenue stream for FDA.

“However, it is not just the resources of the FDA that are in need of improvement, it is clear that their authorities are also outdated. Frankly it is appalling that FDA does not have authority to mandate recalls; require manufacturers to identify and develop plans to mitigate hazards before they occur; access food safety records without delay; and appropriately trace the origin of tainted products.

“I have worked diligently with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass the Food Safety Enhancement Act through the Energy and Commerce Committee. This bill will protect Americans and potentially save lives by granting FDA the authorities and resources necessary to ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply. This legislation has been called by witnesses ‘a well-vetted, mature bill’ and builds upon the first food safety legislation I introduced in 1998, the Imported Food Safety Act. It is my hope that we will be able to address this issue on the floor in the coming weeks.

“This week I joined Vice President Biden, Secretary of Health and Humans Services Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to unveil recommendations from the President’s Food Safety Working Group. Among the measures recommended were plans to prevent salmonella contamination in eggs and poultry and to bolster inspections for E.Coli in ground beef and produce. I am proud to say that H.R. 2997 includes funding for Michigan Research Institute, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to continue their development of technology to pasteurize shell eggs, effectively eradicating food borne illness such as Salmonella and Avian Flu. It is my hope that this will help to prevent future bacterial contamination of shell eggs and the illnesses that result. It is my hope that this funding will be maintained in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations legislation.

“Madam Speaker, I once again want to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2997. This is legislation that is critical to the public health and safety of American families across the country, in particular our children and grandchildren. No mother or father should have to worry about the meals they put on the table every night, and as their federal representatives it is our duty to institute the reform and provide the resources that are so greatly needed in our food system.”

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