[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1377-E1378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ADVANCES MADE IN FEDERAL FOOD SAFETY LAW

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                          HON. DEBBIE STABENOW

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 1999

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an important 
anniversary. On this date last year, President Clinton signed the 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 
(Pub. L. 105-185) into law. Among the many important programs that were 
created and improved by the bill, I am most proud of the advances made 
in federal food safety efforts.
  I would like to take this opportunity to inform Congress of the 
progress made by the food safety Crisis Management Team created by the 
Agricultural Research bill. We all remember the terrible tragedy of the 
contaminated strawberries served by schools as part of the National 
School Lunch Program. Some of those contaminated strawberries were 
eaten by students in my district. Although local and federal officials 
did an excellent job of responding to the crisis, it became clear to me 
that there was a need for better coordination of existing federal 
resources to respond to food safety outbreaks. Shortly thereafter, I 
introduced the Safe Food Action Plan, H.R. 3148. My bill made food 
safety a priority for the federal government and created a food safety 
Rapid Response Team. After working closely with Agriculture Committee 
leadership, the Rapid Response Team provision was included in the final 
version of the Agricultural Research bill. I would like to include in 
the Record, a letter from Ranking Member Stenholm thanking me for my 
contributions to the bill.
  Since that time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has instituted 
the Food Emergency Rapid Response and Evaluation Team (FERRET). The 
mission of FERRET is twofold. The team works together to facilitate a 
prompt, effective and coordinated USDA response to food safety 
emergencies. Furthermore, the team evaluates emergency episodes and 
uses what is learned from each crisis to improve long-term strategies 
to prevent future emergencies.
  FERRET is chaired by the Under Secretary for Food Safety and its 
membership includes:

[[Page E1378]]

the Under Secretary for Food Nutrition and Consumer Services, the Under 
Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, the Under 
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, the Under Secretary 
for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, USDA General Counsel, the USDA 
Inspector General and the Director of the Office of Communication.
  During the past year, FERRET has met whenever levels of contaminants 
pose a threat to human health and safety. In just one year, FERRET has 
dramatically increased the pace at which USDA responds to public health 
problems. The new team ensures a swift response by USDA to 
contamination and provides a greater assurance to American consumers 
that their food is safe.
  I am proud of the very positive accomplishments achieved by FERRET in 
just one year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for 
their efforts. I look forward to working with FERRET on future food 
safety efforts.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                     Committee on Agriculture,

                                    Washington, DC, June 23, 1999.
     Hon. Debbie Stabenow,
     House of Representatives,
     Longworth HOB, Washington, DC.
       Dear Debbie: One year ago, President Clinton signed the 
     Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 
     1998 into law (Pub. L. 105-185). On this anniversary, I would 
     like to take the opportunity to thank you for your important 
     contributions to this bill in the area of food safety.
       A significant amount of debate on the bill focused on food 
     safety concerns. Your input, based on the expertise of 
     Michigan State University and the National Center for Food 
     Safety and Toxicology research in your district, contributed 
     significantly to the debate. I would particularly like to 
     thank you for your contribution regarding the Food Safety 
     Crisis Management Team.
       Last year, you introduced the Safe Food Action Plan (H.R. 
     3148) to create a Food Safety Rapid Response team, at the 
     U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to respond to food 
     safety disasters. Your bill helped focus the Committee's 
     attention on this issue, resulting in the inclusion of a 
     similar crisis management team in the final version of the 
     Agriculture Research bill.
       Through your efforts, the USDA has created the Food 
     Emergency Rapid Response and Evaluation Team (FERRET). During 
     the past year, the team has met whenever levels of 
     contaminants in food threaten to pose a human health hazard. 
     As you know, they have effectively handled a variety of 
     problems ranging from arsenic in peanut butter to lead in 
     baby food. This is an important tool for the USDA to have in 
     the area of food safety.
       Let me also thank you for your important contributions to 
     the overall issue of food safety. I look forward to our 
     continued friendship and to working together on the 
     Agriculture Committee. With best wishes, I am
           Sincerely,
                                              Charles W. Stenholm,
                                                   Ranking Member.

     

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