Discusses Agriculture Department’s Budget at Appropriations Hearing

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) engaged with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on a number of key issues facing the Department, including USDA’s controversial proposed poultry inspection rule and management of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps.  The discussion took place at an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on USDA’s fiscal year 2015 budget request.   DeLauro is a former Chairwoman of the Subcommittee that funds USDA.

DeLauro raised her concern that if USDA were to implement their proposed poultry processing rule, it would have serious detrimental effects on both food and worker safety. She pointed out to Secretary Vilsack that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has twice found the HAACP programdata, which the proposed rule is based on, to have too many limitations to conclude food safety benefits. She also raised concerns over worker safety, questioning Secretary Vilsack on why it would be beneficial to have a system where companies are allowed to put their own inspectors on the line, effectively giving them oversight responsibilities over themselves.

Continuing to underscore her concern with food safety, DeLauro asked Secretary Vilsack what was preventing USDA from strengthening poultry salmonella standards. When he responded that USDA has limited authority in that area she told him point blank “ask us for the authority.” Secretary Vilsack declined to respond.

DeLauro began her questioning by applauding the six governors who have stepped up to ensure vulnerable residents at risk of being kicked off of the food stamp program can continue to receive food stamp benefits. She also thanked Secretary Vilsack for following the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that funding from the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program not include white potatoes, which are not lacking in the average American diet.

To view the hearing, go to: http://www.c-span.org/video/?318305-1/hearing-fy2015-agriculture-budget