[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A BILL TO AMEND THE FEDERAL MEAT INSPECTION ACT AND THE POULTRY 
                        PRODUCTS INSPECTION ACT

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                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
bill to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products 
Inspection Act, and grant the Secretary of Agriculture the power to 
order the recall of meat and poultry that is adulterated, misbranded, 
or otherwise unsafe. I am pleased to be joined in introducing this 
legislation by Carolyn McCarthy (NY), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Tim Ryan 
(OH) and George Miller (CA).
  The announcement of the discovery of Bovine Spongiform 
Encephalopathy, also known as ``mad cow disease,'' in Canada this week, 
further highlights the importance of this legislation. Let me be clear 
that there is no evidence that our domestic meat products are 
compromised in any way. However, if they were ever found to be tainted, 
the Secretary currently has no authority to mandate the recall of these 
products. This is unacceptable today, more than ever.
  I cannot overstate the importance of the nature of this legislation. 
It is imperative to the health and welfare of the American public that 
we bolster the regulation of the meat and poultry industry. The number 
of people affected annually from ingesting tainted meat and poultry 
products illuminates this proposition: 5,000 people die from food-borne 
illnesses each year. Furthermore, nearly 76 million people get sick 
annually from eating tainted food, of which 325,000 require 
hospitalization.
  The Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak of 1993 prompted the imposition 
of a new regulatory system on the meat and poultry industry designed to 
help eliminate future deadly food-borne illness outbreaks. The Hazard 
Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) program shifted the 
responsibility for ensuring meat safety from USDA inspectors to the 
meat companies themselves and instituted microbial tests for harmful 
bacteria. Since the implementation of the HACCP regulations, however, 
controversy has erupted over whether the new rules place too much power 
in the hands of the meat industry to regulate itself.
  Due to the huge political clout of the meatpacking industry, USDA 
does not have, nor seem to want, the power to issue mandatory recalls 
of tainted meat and poultry products. Complying with agency recalls, 
therefore, is at the industry's discretion. The meat industry says that 
it has never failed to cooperate with a recall request from the USDA, 
thus mandatory recalls of tainted meat are not needed. I disagree.
  Whenever there is a recall, press releases issued by these companies 
make very clear that the recall is voluntary. However, when USDA asks 
for a recall, a negotiation process ensues between the agency and the 
industry. Meanwhile, thousands of people would continue to eat 
potentially harmful meat. This is not a trivial matter. This is meat 
that is potentially contaminated and could result in death.
  This is a question of accountability. Somebody must be held 
responsible for the quality and safety of the meat we consume. The 
government must ensure that the meatpacking industry produces only safe 
meat products. My bill will facilitate this need by amending the 
Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act. My 
bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to order the recall of 
meat and poultry that is adulterated, misbranded, or otherwise unsafe 
or tainted from the market. The time has come for this necessary step.

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