[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 186 (Friday, December 11, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H14746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   ANTIBIOTICS IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE

  (Mr. BOSWELL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. BOSWELL. Madam Speaker, the United States has the safest, most 
plentiful, and most affordable food supply in the world. This abundant 
food supply didn't happen by accident. The United States has put 
policies and production practices in place which allows us to continue 
to feed the world at affordable prices.
  However, animal agriculture and those production practices are under 
attack. Some in Congress would ban the use of antibiotics in animal 
agriculture. As a lifelong farmer still managing a cow-calf operation 
in Iowa and former chairman of the Livestock Subcommittee, the use of 
antibiotics in animal agriculture is an issue I have personally been 
involved in.
  As a livestock producer, I can attest that the industry is committed 
to using antibiotics responsibly and has developed responsible use 
guidelines. Producers didn't develop these guidelines because Congress 
told them to do so. They developed the guidelines because it was the 
right thing to do for their animals and their consumers.
  Those in Congress who would ban the use of antibiotics for 
nontreatment purposes have a noble goal--improving human health. 
However, scientific evidence does not exist that this ban would reduce 
antibiotic resistance in humans. They are looking to penalize an 
industry without appropriate data to back up their claim.
  A 2006 report from the Institute of Food Technologists said 
``eliminating antibiotic drugs from food animal production may have 
little positive effect on resistant bacteria that threaten human 
health.'' In fact, eliminating animal antibiotics may be detrimental to 
public health.
  I believe that a ban on non-therapeutic antibiotics in animal 
agriculture will have detrimental effects, not only on our farmers who 
feed the world safe and wholesome meat and meat products, but also on 
public health.

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