We need to take time to get #usbill ##HR2749
right. It is a piece of work in its present state.
Leslie Please educate yourself. I have written
many other Plant Your Dream Blogs on this
topic this week.

here is a good start:



"None of the producer witnesses at the hearing today would support the Food Safety Enhancement Act as it is written," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-6). "It is clear that members of the committee and our witnesses are concerned about the new authority the bill gives FDA to regulate on the farm production practices. The notion that FDA can dictate to farmers in every region of the country, growing and producing a vast array of crops and livestock for a range of markets, is irrational. I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve this food safety legislation."
Written testimony provided by the witnesses is available on the Committee website: http://agriculturehouse.gov/hearings/index.html..
A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.

From the Press Release issued
by the Committee on Agriculture
July 16, 09


11:12 AM
July 18, 09


ACTION PAGE:

GO SIGN THE PETITION NOW TO
PROTECT SMALL FARMERS and OUR HEALTH FREEDOMS

Ask Congress to Defeat HR 2749
111th U.S. Congress - House Bill
FSEA #HR 2749 (Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009)
http://www.ftcldf.org/petitions/pnum993.php



Follow through Congress on Thomas:
http://www.thomas.gov/



Chrys Ostrander
Jul 14th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the National Organic Coalition issued an Action Alert yesterday targeted at sustainable ag advocates in states who have US Representatives on the House Agriculture Committee. The Action Alert is about this bad food safety bill that is on the fast track in congress that has a House Ag Committee hearing on the 16th. The bill proposes a one-size-fits-all apporoach to improving food safety as well as a mandatory annual $500 fee for producers (including many farms) to be able to sell food anywhere in the US. It’s crazy that small producers are being asked to pay in the same amount that a mega corporations would be paying in. That’s just the beginning of the bad things about this bill.

Since the Action Alert is not on either the NSAC or the NOC websites, I’ve posted it on my website:
http://www.thefutureisorganic.net/FoodSafetyAction.htm




Tell Congress ‘One size does not fit all’ when it comes to regulating food safety! We the Undersigned urge you to support amendments to Federal Food Safety legislation that draw a clear line between small local processors and direct market growers selling locally and the long, industrial, multi-sourced food supply chains where foodborne pathogens have appeared and created problems. FDA oversight is overreaching and unnecessary for small processors selling into local markets and direct market producers.

This is a petition from WORC
Received July 17, 09


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/17/MNB618Q3UU.DTL


07-17) 04:00 PDT Washington - -- Members of a powerful House committee and farmers raised alarms Thursday about a food-safety bill steamrolling through Congress, saying it could hurt small farmers, conflict with organic growing methods and trump efforts to boost wildlife habitat and water and air quality.

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Overshadowed by the health care debate on Capitol Hill, the bill is part of a broad effort backed by the Obama administration and consumer groups to tighten food-safety rules after national outbreaks of food-borne illness caused by salmonella, E. coli and other pathogens in cookie dough, peanuts, produce and beef.

The Food Safety Enhancement Act by Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, would give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate all farms. It has provoked uproar among small farmers.

"There's been a battle cry in North Carolina, that the FDA is coming onto the farm," said Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/17/MNB618Q3UU.DTL#ix...




5:05 PM
July 17, 09

LA TIMES

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-food-safety17-2009jul17,...


House panel holds a hearing over legislation that would expand the FDA's powers and add regulations and fees.
By Kristina Sherry
July 17, 2009
Reporting from Washington -- Farming and ranching representatives appeared before a congressional panel Thursday to express concern that a major bill pending in the House could unnecessarily complicate the marketplace without improving food safety.

Amid recent health scares involving cookie dough and pistachios, the Obama administration has pledged to modernize the food safety system. Lawmakers are considering the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, aimed at broadening the Food and Drug Administration's powers.

The FDA currently regulates about 80% of the food supply, ensuring the safety of domestic and imported food products except for meat and poultry. The Food Safety and Inspection Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is responsible for the remaining 20%, inspecting cattle, sheep, swine and goats before and after slaughter. The two agencies share responsibility for egg safety.

The proposed legislation would, among other things, give the FDA oversight of on-farm production activities, charge facilities an annual $500 registration fee, require additional record keeping, and expand FDA authority to quarantine geographic areas for food safety problems.

At Thursday's House Agriculture Committee hearing, Maryland farmer Nick Maravell said added regulations and fees could be a tremendous burden.

Maravell, who has 170 acres of farmland, said his organic operation relied on crop and animal diversity -- Angus beef, chickens and turkeys, eggs from free-range chickens, and soybeans.



OUTSTANDING REFERENCE

http://www.agandfoodlaw.com/

4:17 PM
July 17 ,09

PRESS RELEASE,JULY 17

"None of the producer witnesses at the hearing today would support the Food Safety Enhancement Act as it is written," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-6). "It is clear that members of the committee and our witnesses are concerned about the new authority the bill gives FDA to regulate on the farm production practices. The notion that FDA can dictate to farmers in every region of the country, growing and producing a vast array of crops and livestock for a range of markets, is irrational. I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve this food safety legislation."

http://agriculture.house.gov/list/press/agriculture_dem/07162009foodsafety.html





LINK of NOTE:
http://www.govtrack.us/users/questions.xpd?topic=bill:h111-2749

Gives anwers and questions...



3:29 PM
July 17, 09

Spent time on the phone with
NICKOLAD MARAVELL
Owner and Operator, Nick’s Organic Farm, LLC, Potomac, Maryland
He gave Testimony at the Open Hearing Yesterday July 16 on HR 2749.

Also spoke with MARGIE MACDONALD of WORC.

Called the office of RUSSELL LIBBY.
of MAINE ORGANIC FARM and GARDEN ASSOCIATION.
RUSSELL has been submitting admendments are working
to lobby for necessary shifts in the bill.

You can see my notes in process here:
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1457774


8:36 AM
July 17, 09

Okay,

I called SHANNON, a legislative aide at
the AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE.

She directed me to BOB who handles the press.
I left some messages on his work cell and the office phone.

I want to follow up on what happened yesterday
at the Committee Open Public Hearing.

Shannon told me she watched the proceedings.
I understand what she meant.

When I spend a week in Sacramento a number
of years ago, the various committee proceedings
were viewable from the office of JOHN VASCONCELLOS,
my ally, and a State Senator at the time.

Spending a week with John at the Capital was
an eye opening experience.

It was good to experience the community of the Capital,
and start to connect with how the legislative process works.

It reminded me of the Court, back in the days of
ancient England. There was an element of community members
who wanted to see the King. The Capital was filled with
lobbyists, and it was fascinating to watch how they work.

Lots of parties. Lots of morning breakfasts. Lots of
educational opportunities beftween the actual legislative meetings.

I imagine it is the same in Washington D.C.

So here is the Page where the
Witness Opening Statements can be found.

I am going to copy some of this information to my computer.

I learned yesterday from my first day in Washington via the
Internet, that URL's move around quickly.

Thanks to Shannon for directing me to this page.

http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/statements.html


Thursday July 16 -10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Full Committee – Public Hearing
RE: To review current issues in food safety


Panel I

Mr. Larry Wooten, President, North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation, on behalf of American Farm Bureau Federation, Raleigh, North Carolina
Mr. J. Patrick Boyle, President, American Meat Institute, Washington, D.C.
Ms. Carol Tucker-Foreman, Distinguished Fellow, The Food Policy Institute, Consumer Federation of America, Washington, D.C.
Sam Ives, DVM, Ph.D., Director of Veterinary Services and Associate Director of Research, Cactus Feeders, Ltd., on behalf of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Amarillo, Texas
Mr. Kent Peppler, President, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, on behalf of National Farmers Union, Mead, Colorado
Mr. Bob Reinhard, Director of Food Safety for Sara Lee, and Chairman, Technical and Regulatory Committee, of the National Turkey Federation, Downers Grove, Illinois
Mr. Nicholas Maravell, Owner and Operator, Nick’s Organic Farm, LLC, Potomac, Maryland
Mr. Drew McDonald, Vice President National Quality Systems, Taylor Farms, Inc.
Panel II

Mr. Jerold Mande, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Ms. Cindy Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. (no opening statement)
Mr. Mike Taylor, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland

ORGANIC INPUT:
http://curezone.com/blogs/fm.asp?i=1457724






 

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