[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 926 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 926

  Recognizing the importance of food, product safety, and U.S. trade 
                                policy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 16, 2008

 Ms. Sutton submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on 
 Energy and Commerce and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the importance of food, product safety, and U.S. trade 
                                policy.

Whereas the United States imports nearly $65,000,000,000 in food products 
        annually, an amount nearly double the value imported when the North 
        American Free Trade Agreement (``NAFTA'') went into effect;
Whereas the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (``FDA'') estimates it will only 
        inspect 0.6 percent of the food it regulates at the border in 2007;
Whereas the FDA inspected approximately 8 percent of imported food in 1992, 
        prior to the enactment of NAFTA;
Whereas imports of seafood increased by 65 percent in the decade following the 
        enactment of NAFTA;
Whereas today over 80 percent of seafood consumed by Americans is imported;
Whereas the FDA was only able to inspect 1.93 percent of all seafood imports in 
        2006, despite a 78 percent increase of Vibrio, a diarrheal disease 
        associated with seafood, following the enactment of NAFTA between 1996 
        and 2006;
Whereas the U.S. Department of Agriculture (``USDA'') has only inspected 11 
        percent of beef, pork, and chicken imported into the United States, 
        despite the continuing threat of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or 
        mad cow disease, and other health issues;
Whereas many Americans have been affected by major food contamination or health 
        problems in the United States, including recalls of spinach for 
        Salmonella and E. coli contamination, the recall of tainted pet food 
        from China that sickened and killed an estimated 39,000 pets, and the 
        ban of Canadian cattle after cows tested positive for mad cow disease;
Whereas the United States allows food to be imported through 360 ports, although 
        only 13 cities have an FDA laboratory;
Whereas trade deals force the United States to accept food imports that do not 
        meet safety standards for food produced in the United States as long as 
        the products meet a vague ``equivalent'' standard;
Whereas vigorous inspections of imported food and products by Federal officials 
        is viewed as an impediment to trade under many agreements and therefore 
        are not carried out in an effective and efficient manner;
Whereas the overall value of imported products has increased dramatically during 
        the NAFTA era, including an increase of 67 percent between 2000 and 
        2006;
Whereas 80 percent of all toys sold in the United States today are imported from 
        China;
Whereas the number of Chinese-made products being recalled in the United States 
        has doubled in the past 5 years;
Whereas Chinese-made products now account for 60 percent of all consumer product 
        recalls; and
Whereas the Consumer Product Safety Commission has half the number of employees 
        it had 3 decades ago, before trade deals allowed unregulated, foreign 
        products to flood our markets: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the causal relationship between so-called 
        ``free trade agreements'' and the increase of imports;
            (2) recognizes that adoption of additional trade agreements 
        will likely significantly increase the number of products and 
        food our Nation imports;
            (3) recognizes that current United States' trade policies 
        must be improved to adequately ensure the safety of imported 
        food and products;
            (4) recognizes the link between current United States trade 
        policies and the increase in tainted imported food and unsafe 
        products;
            (5) recognizes that the percentage of food imports 
        currently inspected by the United States is inadequate and 
        poses a risk to American families;
            (6) recognizes the need to ensure the safety of imported 
        food before additional trade agreements are ratified;
            (7) encourages the USDA, FDA, and other Federal agencies 
        charged with keeping imported food safe to step up inspections 
        of imported food; and
            (8) encourages greater vigilance by Federal agencies in 
        ensuring imported products and food are safe.
                                 <all>