[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 52 (Friday, May 1, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S4036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. COVERDELL (for himself and Mr. Abraham):
  S. 2025. A bill to promote the safety of food, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.


      the food research, education, safety, and health act of 1998

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I believe that protecting our nation's 
food supply should be a high priority for Congress and this 
Administration. Today, America produces the safest food in the world, 
however, more needs to be done in order to make it even safer. We are 
increasingly becoming a global economy. Agricultural trade is on the 
rise. Due to these circumstances, there are new and emerging food borne 
threats which need to be addressed. That is why I am introducing a 
comprehensive food safety proposal, The Food Research, Education, 
Safety, and Health Act of 1998, also known as the F.R.E.S.H. Act, which 
will provide the additional tools and resources necessary to make our 
food even safer. I am pleased to have the distinguished Senator from 
Michigan (Mr. Abraham), join me as an original co-sponsor of this 
legislation.
  As chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee with jurisdiction 
over food safety issues, I believe this proposal could not come at a 
more critical time. The public is becoming increasingly concerned with 
the safety of their food. Over the past year, there have been increased 
reports of people becoming sick due to food borne related illnesses. 
Children and some adults became ill with Hepatitis A from contaminated 
strawberries distributed to schools through USDA's school lunch 
program. In addition, there have been reports, even as late as 
yesterday, of ground beef contaminated with the E.coli 0157:H7 bacteria 
having to be recalled from grocery store shelves.
  In drafting this legislation, my staff and I have had numerous 
discussions with the University of Georgia. Dr. Mike Doyle, Director of 
the Center for Food Safety and Quality Enhancement and Department Head 
of Food Science and Technology at the University of Georgia, is a 
leading food safety authority and expert on the E.coli 0157:H7 
bacteria. We talked with others, including farmers, health experts, 
processors, and government officials, in crafting this comprehensive, 
responsible food safety approach.
  Several months ago, I traveled to Guatemala to investigate reports of 
unsanitary conditions existing within that country. This was prompted 
by reports of Guatemalan raspberries being contaminated with 
Cyclospora. While I was heartened and impressed by the investments and 
continuing efforts the Guatemalan producers have made in food safety 
infrastructure, there are still legitimate safety concerns we have for 
American consumers which need to be addressed.
  I believe we need to place a greater emphasis on food safety consumer 
education, research, and prevention efforts in order to continue to 
maintain our safe food supply. My legislation is intended to do just 
that. The F.R.E.S.H. Act provides for the following:
  Consumer education food safety block grants to the States.
  Directs the Department of Agriculture to carry out consumer education 
initiatives on the irradiation of foods.
  Establishes a Food Safety Council for the purpose of evaluating and 
establishing priorities for food safety research and education, and 
food-related prevention activities. The Council would be required to 
submit an annual report to Congress on actions taken by the Council, 
including any recommendations for improvement in food safety.
  Competitive research grants to study food borne pathogens and finding 
the best methods to reduce or eliminate them as a threat to humans.
  Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a number of 
demonstration projects to determine the epidemiology and ecology of 
potential food borne pathogens and develop interventions. The Secretary 
would be required to submit report to Congress on these projects by no 
later than December 1, 2001.
  Authorizes $5 million for the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) to pay for expense associated with the detection of 
food borne pathogens. This funding will be used for the employment of 
new scientists and the acquisition of new scientific equipment.
  Authorizes $5 million to enable the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH) to conduct research concerning medical treatments for individuals 
infected with food borne pathogens.
  Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a Food Safety 
Research Information Office in the National Agricultural Library. This 
office will provide the scientific community and other interested 
persons with information on public and private research activities on 
food safety.
  Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct risk assessments for 
each species of animal that is used to produce food in the U.S., at 
each step in the food chain in order to determine the risk of pathogens 
posed by the species. Risk assessments would also be conducted for each 
type of fruit and vegetable.
  Authorizes $10.4 million for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 
to hire new microbiologists and inspectors in order to decrease the 
risk of importing unsafe food products.
  Mr. President, food safety is a matter of utmost importance to me, 
and the American people. I urge my colleagues and the Administration to 
support this important legislative initiative.
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