[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S7218]
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, 2001--Continued

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, what is the legislative business now before 
the Senate?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. H.R. 4461, the Agriculture appropriations 
bill.
  Mr. REID. Is there an amendment pending?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is none.


                           Amendment No. 3938

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for Mr. Harkin, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 3938.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the 
amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

  (Purpose: To prohibit the use of appropriated funds to label, mark, 
stamp, or tag as ``inspected and passed'' meat, meat products, poultry, 
   or poultry products that do not meet microbiological performance 
         standards established by the Secretary of Agriculture)

       On page 25, line 11, before the period, insert the 
     following: ``: Provided further, That none of the funds made 
     available under this heading may be used by the Secretary of 
     Agriculture to label, mark, stamp, or tag as ``inspected and 
     passed'' meat, meat products, poultry, or poultry products, 
     under the Poultry Products Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 451 et 
     seq.) or the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et 
     seq.), that do not meet microbiological performance standards 
     established by the Secretary''.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, this amendment clarifies USDA's authority to 
enforce standards for pathogens in meat and poultry products. These 
standards are essential to ensuring continued progress in producing 
safer products by reducing these pathogen levels in meat and poultry 
products. They are an important part of the new meat and poultry 
inspection system adopted in 1996.
  This amendment only clarifies USDA's authority to enforce pathogen 
standards. It will not codify existing salmonella performance 
standards.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Smith of Oregon). The clerk will call the 
roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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