Senate approps bill funds Food Safety Modernization Act
March 12, 2013 | 04:51 PM
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., pointed out today that the appropriations bill she introduced Monday to fund the government through September 30 would provide money for the Food and Drug Administration to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, which the House-passed appropriations bill does not.
But Mikulski also signaled in a speech on the Senate floor that cooperation with the House on the development of the Senate version of the bill has been so positive it seems likely the bill will go through with what the senators have added.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.
“In Agriculture, our amendment really makes sure that we help fund the Food Safety Modernization Act, which is not included in the House bill,” Mikulski said.
“What this does is help fund the first major reform of food safety laws in 70 years. And it's much-needed. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tells us 48 million Americans suffer from food borne illness each year.”
“This morning, before I came to the floor,I attended a hearing on the Select Committee on Intelligence,” Mikulski said.
“General James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, along with key people from the military, civilian agencies, and FBI Director Mueller, gave us a 30-page report on threats to the United States. One of the things they talked about was the safety of our food supply. We need to make sure we have inspectors on the ground for what might occur through bacteria or what might also be introduced. We need to understand that food safety is a big issue.”
Mikulski also noted the bill’s specific impact on Maryland.
“This amendment is also better than the House bill in improving clean water to rural communities, and provides 165 rural communities with clean water and waste disposal, creating construction jobs today and improving community health tomorrow,” she said.
“I represent over 2,000 miles of the Chesapeake Bay coastline — along with Senator Cardin. We have older communities. We have issues related to wastewater treatment that are not only polluting the Chesapeake Bay, but are very difficult to repair because of the very nature of our population. I’m talking about wonderful, patriotic people who don't have a lot of cash to pay a lot of taxes for wastewater disposal. But in helping them, we improve public health, and we save the Chesapeake Bay, with all its seafood industry. That's just Maryland. But we could go everywhere and find similar stories.”
Mikulski also praised Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and her ranking member, who has the title of vice chairman, Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
Then she added, “I want to comment on the excellent tone and conversations that we've had with the House. Specifically, our House counterparts — Congressman Hal Rodgers [R-Ky.], the chairman over on the House Appropriations Committee, and Congresswoman Nita Lowey [D-N.Y., the ranking member). We've talked with each other, we've worked together and if we continue to do that without intervening dynamics, we can get this bill done.”
Mikulski also said, “In today's toxic environment in Washington, I must say our conversations have been characterized by civility, collegiality and absolute candor. What can we do and what can we not do. Not what we'd like to do but what we must do to keep the government doors open.”
“On March 27 that continuing resolution expires. If we do not pass our bill and then have an agreement between the House and the Senate that is signed by the president, we could face a government shutdown,” she said.
“Now there is no will on either side of this institution that wants to do that. We are absolutely committed to no shutdown, no showdown, no lockdown, no slamdown. We want to do the job. And that's why we've been working very carefully to do that.”
While the House and Senate are also debating future budgets this week, Mikulski noted that her bill offers funding through the fiscal year, “which will take us through October 1 — that meets the mandatory cap assigned to us by the Budget Committee of $1.043 trillion.”
“That's a lot of money. But it is a big government with big responsibility. It includes everything from defense, defending us over there, to the border patrol, defending us here, to meeting compelling human need and making investments in science and technology while ensuring that we do what we need to do.”
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
Opposition from House Republicans forced Mikulski to drop her plan to provide Cabinet secretaries with the power to move money among accounts to deal with the sequester.
But Shelby said, “This this bill will provide more flexibility for the remainder of the year so that government agencies can deal with the reality of the sequester which remains fully in place.”
Shelby also said he believes the bill is a product that both parties in both houses can support.
“I support moving forward with this bill and encourage my colleagues to join together to do the same,” Shelby said. “Many Americans have lost faith that Republicans and Democrats can work together on anything. This bill demonstrates that it is possible, and I hope it will pave the way for a more productive relationship in the future. “
But Mikulski also signaled in a speech on the Senate floor that cooperation with the House on the development of the Senate version of the bill has been so positive it seems likely the bill will go through with what the senators have added.
“In Agriculture, our amendment really makes sure that we help fund the Food Safety Modernization Act, which is not included in the House bill,” Mikulski said.
“What this does is help fund the first major reform of food safety laws in 70 years. And it's much-needed. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tells us 48 million Americans suffer from food borne illness each year.”
“This morning, before I came to the floor,I attended a hearing on the Select Committee on Intelligence,” Mikulski said.
“General James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, along with key people from the military, civilian agencies, and FBI Director Mueller, gave us a 30-page report on threats to the United States. One of the things they talked about was the safety of our food supply. We need to make sure we have inspectors on the ground for what might occur through bacteria or what might also be introduced. We need to understand that food safety is a big issue.”
Mikulski also noted the bill’s specific impact on Maryland.
“This amendment is also better than the House bill in improving clean water to rural communities, and provides 165 rural communities with clean water and waste disposal, creating construction jobs today and improving community health tomorrow,” she said.
“I represent over 2,000 miles of the Chesapeake Bay coastline — along with Senator Cardin. We have older communities. We have issues related to wastewater treatment that are not only polluting the Chesapeake Bay, but are very difficult to repair because of the very nature of our population. I’m talking about wonderful, patriotic people who don't have a lot of cash to pay a lot of taxes for wastewater disposal. But in helping them, we improve public health, and we save the Chesapeake Bay, with all its seafood industry. That's just Maryland. But we could go everywhere and find similar stories.”
Mikulski also praised Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and her ranking member, who has the title of vice chairman, Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
Then she added, “I want to comment on the excellent tone and conversations that we've had with the House. Specifically, our House counterparts — Congressman Hal Rodgers [R-Ky.], the chairman over on the House Appropriations Committee, and Congresswoman Nita Lowey [D-N.Y., the ranking member). We've talked with each other, we've worked together and if we continue to do that without intervening dynamics, we can get this bill done.”
Mikulski also said, “In today's toxic environment in Washington, I must say our conversations have been characterized by civility, collegiality and absolute candor. What can we do and what can we not do. Not what we'd like to do but what we must do to keep the government doors open.”
“On March 27 that continuing resolution expires. If we do not pass our bill and then have an agreement between the House and the Senate that is signed by the president, we could face a government shutdown,” she said.
“Now there is no will on either side of this institution that wants to do that. We are absolutely committed to no shutdown, no showdown, no lockdown, no slamdown. We want to do the job. And that's why we've been working very carefully to do that.”
While the House and Senate are also debating future budgets this week, Mikulski noted that her bill offers funding through the fiscal year, “which will take us through October 1 — that meets the mandatory cap assigned to us by the Budget Committee of $1.043 trillion.”
“That's a lot of money. But it is a big government with big responsibility. It includes everything from defense, defending us over there, to the border patrol, defending us here, to meeting compelling human need and making investments in science and technology while ensuring that we do what we need to do.”
Opposition from House Republicans forced Mikulski to drop her plan to provide Cabinet secretaries with the power to move money among accounts to deal with the sequester.
But Shelby said, “This this bill will provide more flexibility for the remainder of the year so that government agencies can deal with the reality of the sequester which remains fully in place.”
Shelby also said he believes the bill is a product that both parties in both houses can support.
“I support moving forward with this bill and encourage my colleagues to join together to do the same,” Shelby said. “Many Americans have lost faith that Republicans and Democrats can work together on anything. This bill demonstrates that it is possible, and I hope it will pave the way for a more productive relationship in the future. “
