Congresswoman Diana DeGette at HD6A in April

 Our Congresswoman, Diana DeGette, visited the house district she once represented in the state legislature and now continues to represent in the US Congress at our meeting on April 24th.  She reported on the successes of the Health Care bills as well as other national issues. Of special interest was her noting of the under-reported bipartisan food identification bills, passed by bipartisan support last summer.  She noted that partisan fights are often emphasized over good government actions, such as updating safe food production and handling.  

“Many of us have been talking about comprehensive food safety for years. Our nation's business community is calling for it. Our constituents are begging for it. I’m so pleased that today at long last we are considering this bill on the House floor on a bipartisan basis. 

“The bill before us will strengthen our food supply in a number of areas; it will transform our food system into one that focuses on prevention rather than reaction. It will provide the FDA with the resources it has lacked, and by giving it mandatory recall authority and subpoena authority, it will give the FDA the tools it needs to deal with an emergency. 

“This bill will also give the FDA the ability to track our food products along the supply chain, enabling targeted and speedier recalls that will benefit businesses and consumers alike this provision of the legislation. We know we can't do it overnight, but it will require the FDA to write regulations undertaking a pilot project, cost benefit analysis, feasibility studies, and public meetings, to make sure that we can track food from field to fork.

“This will improve consumer safety and we exempt the family farm. I urge adoption of this important bill.”  http://degette.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=811:degette-praises-house-passage-of-bipartisan-food-safety-bill&catid=76:press-releases-&Itemid=227