[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1517-E1518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

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                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 20, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1976) making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and related agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my strong support 
for the amendment offered by Mr. Durbin, our colleagues from Illinois. 
This amendment restores some sense of perspective to the Agriculture 
appropriations process, a sense of perspective that seems to be missing 
in the original language of the bill.
  Let's clarify what's at stake here: The E. coli bacteria killed 500 
people last year, and sickened over 20,000 more. Most of those killed 
were innocent children who are not alive today because the food they 
ate was inspected using practices that were first implemented over 90 
years ago.

[[Page E1518]]

  While our meat inspection process remains stuck in the past, this 
microscopic bacteria continues to evolve and grow more virulent. It 
kills its victims by liquefying their organs, a cruel death made all 
the more tragic by the fact that this viscous bacteria is incredibly 
easy to detect using existing technology.
  The capable people at the USDA have set up new standards to combat E. 
coli and other deadly bacteria, but this bill, as written, is designed 
to forbid the meat inspectors from performing these simple tests. 
Please, someone explain to me the logic behind this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to consider their vote on this issue very 
carefully. We all want to trim unnecessary waste out of the Federal 
Government. But you know as well as I that the main goal of this 
legislation is not to rid American citizens of an unneeded expenditure. 
This bill is not in the best interest of the American citizens. The 
only interest being served here is the interest of a small group of 
people who are hiding their profit motive behind the rhetoric of 
deregulation.
  I ask you: Is the health of our children for sale? We have the means 
to stop these needless deaths. Join with me in supporting the Durbin 
amendment.


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