Over the last two years, food producers large and small, consumer and public health groups, and Congressional leaders have come together to support legislation that would bring the most significant update to food safety laws in seven decades. To the chagrin of everyone who worked hard to get S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (and the Tester/Hagen Amendment), passed out of the Senate Monday, the bill is now facing a significant uphill battle.
The future of S. 510, which received broad bipartisan support (73 yeas 25 nays), is now in jeopardy due to a provision in the bill that would allow the FDA to impose fees on importers, and on companies whose food is recalled because of contamination. It now appears that S. 510 must be reconsidered in the Senate so it can be brought into compliance with Article 1, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, which says all revenue-raising measures must originate in the House. However, finding floor time for the bill is looking less and less attainable since Senate Republican leaders are saying their caucus won't vote on any bills until Bush Era tax cuts are extending to the uber-rich. This means that the passage of S. 510 may not happen before the lame duck session ends.
Further lampooning the legislation is Senator Tom Coburn's (R-OK) threat to filibuster a vote if the bill returns to the Senate floor. A staunch opponent of the bill, one can recall Sen. Coburn's speech on the Senate floor two weeks ago when he argued that lawyers (myself included) are all the food safety regulation Americans will ever need.
Now is not the time to let politics get in the way of a piece of legislation that was unanimously voted (Yes, Sen. Coburn too) out of the Senate H.E.L.P. committee over a year ago. Those of us who have followed this historic Act from the time it was introduced to the moments just last week when we quivered in anticipation watching Senate cloture votes on C-SPAN understand that the current version of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act qualifies as a real piece of bi-partisan legislation that addresses a tangible and important national problem.
You may ask, "What's the rush? Can't we just wait it out?"
Not a chance. 2010 is almost over and realistically 2011 is shaping up to be the most politically contentious year since Obama took office. For any legislation that means more roadblocks and more politics. Translation, "Anyone who believes this bill will pass if it is introduced during the next Congressional session is in 'La-La Land'."
The bottom line, though, is this bill is a work of compromise and it is on the precipice of failure because of abhorrent politicking by Mitch McConnell and Co. This bill was passed and all were satisfied and ready to move until a technical flaw was noticed (a flaw not seen by Senate Republicans and Democrats alike over the last year of debate). Now is the time for our Senate and House leaders to do what they need to and finish what they started. Let's fix the flaw and do it now.
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Once the Tea Party is in the kitchen, food safety is toast!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lesliex/chewing-on-food-safety-a-_b_750967.html
We are in a National Food Emergency as much as
a Food Safety emergency.
This bill is failing now because it is sloppy
and assumes that most of us are ignorant of
what we need to be healthy. There is already
too many of us who know better.
There is an underlying powerful force for life
that is driving this bill toward defeat.
It is the very Soul of America The Beautiful
that is driving it toward defeat.
Too many elephants in the tent here:
OUR FOOD CZAR IS CALLING THE SHOTS ON THIS
AND HE NEEDS TO BE VETTED FULLY
Most of us are on minimum life support
turning to pharmaceutical drugs to hold
life together. Health Reform can only happen
with prevention. That is why we are all facing
health bankruptcy.
We need a petition now.
One million more of need to graduate
from viewing democracy as a spectator sport.
Ask Senators to take this vote slowly.
http://food.change.org/petitions/view/chewing_on_food_safety_a_national_conversation_is_needed
A CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE WASHINGTON
ON REAL FOOD SAFETY IS NEEDED NOW
THE CAMPAIGN NEEDS TO START
WITH NATIONAL SUSTAINABILIY LEADERS
JOINING TOGETHER WITH LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET SHOPPERS
TO BECOME A POWERFUL FORCE IN POLITICS
MORE HERE
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1733594
First of all, most of the food borne problems we have all been concerned about, came from meat, poultry and eggs. These come under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture - not the FDA.
The hidden agebnda of the House & Senate bills smell of giant agribusiness taking control of our food
supply and a bloated FDA big brother bureaucracy.
Check for yourself. Google up FOOD FREEDOM for a review of what they are trying to sneak in on us.
It is scary!
A laughable statement to anyone who has spent any time in the EU where they actually take food safety seriously. Compared to food there, American food is poison. Regulations are necessary for a reason. Without them, our health and our lives are at risk.
Because you are from the EU, you will also be aware that CODEX Alimentarius is going into final effect in April, 2011 and that it has pretty much already outlawed, or will outlaw meaingful potency vitamins, minerals, and alternative therapies while allowing GMO-riddled foods and poisons that hundreds of companies had previously outlawed. This S.510 Bill will usher in CODEX Alimentarius to our lives. This bill has been called a "Food Fascism Bill" by many and for good reason. Note that the CODEX Bill was brought to you by the SAME NAZI who brought you XYCLONE-B POISON GAS USED AT DEATH CAMPS in Nazi Germany!
Good health to you,
Robert