CONTACT:
Kate Cyrul (Rep. DeLauro) 202-225-3661
Brandon MacGillis (Rep. DeGette) 202-226-7824
Jon Samuels (Rep. Schakowsky) 202-226-6898
DeLauro,
Schakowsky and DeGette Call For
Hearing
on The Safe Food Act
E.
Coli Outbreak In 10 States Shows Need For Single Agency To Over See Food Safety
Laws
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – On the heels of the multi state E. Coli outbreak, U.S. Representatives
Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) sent a
letter to the Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) asking
for a hearing on their bill the “Safe Food Act,” H.R. 1507.
This legislation would consolidate all food safety agencies and establish
the Food Safety Administration, responsible for the creation, administration and
enforcement of our food safety laws.
“This
outbreak highlights the need for a strong food safety inspection system.
We often associate E. coli with contaminated meat, but this outbreak
involving spinach demonstrates that we need to be alert on all fronts for
possible sources of the infection,” said DeLauro.
“The Food Safety Administration that would be created under my bill
would streamline the oversight of our food system – preventing many cases of
foodborne illness like E. coli.”
Food
and Drug Administration officials have found more than 50 cases of E. coli
outbreak from spinach in 10 states. Since the outbreak was first reported on
Thursday one person has died and dozens more have become sick from eating
tainted spinach. E. coli is commonly
present in animal manure, which is used as fertilizer.
“This
latest outbreak underscores the long overdue need for passage of strong
legislation to protect consumers from tainted food.
The Safe Food Act would help us achieve that goal, and our committee
should act on it immediately,” said Representative Jan Schakowsky, ranking
Democrat on the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee.
“Our
bill would establish a Food Safety Administration which would put all food
safety laws under one roof, better serving the American public.
We can’t afford to wait for the next outbreak to act,“ said
Representative DeGette.
The
full text of the letter follows.
September
15, 2006
The
Honorable Joe Barton, Chairman
Committee
on Energy and Commerce
2125
Dear
Chairman Barton:
Given the disturbing development this week regarding the E.
Coli 0157:H-7 outbreak in at least ten states, we urge you to hold a
legislative hearing on H.R. 1507, the “Safe Food Act,” which would create a
single federal agency responsible for food safety.
As you are well aware, there are currently many agencies
and departments that handle food safety issues.
For example, within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food Safety
and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates meat, poultry and processed egg
products, while the Food and Drug Administration’s Center
for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and Center for Veterinary Medicine
(CVM) regulate produce and other food products.
Finally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks
foodborne illnesses. Too often,
divided responsibilities and bureaucratic red tape interfere with the federal
government’s ability to safeguard public health.
The “Safe Food Act” is
critical legislation that would consolidate all food safety agencies and
establish the Food Safety Administration. By
having a single department responsible for the creation, administration, and
enforcement of our food safety laws and regulations, the federal government will
be better equipped to prevent foodborne illness and protect our food supply.
If an outbreak occurs, one agency will be responsible for tracking
outbreaks, preventing the spread, tracing the contamination to its origin, and
quickly fixing the problems that allowed it to occur.
As the original sponsor and cosponsors of this legislation, we appreciate
your consideration of our request, and recognize that few legislative days
remain in this session of Congress with much work to be done.
But few issues are as important as ensuring public health and protecting
our food supply. Please do not
hesitate to call us with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Rosa
DeLauro
Diana DeGette
Jan Schakowsky