[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 75 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE EXPEDITING AGRICULTURE THROUGH SCIENCE (EATS) ACT

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                        HON. STEPHEN LEE FINCHER

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 26, 2011

  Mr. FINCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue of great 
importance to family farmers and agricultural businesses. The world's 
population is predicted to be 9.1 billion by 2050, greatly straining 
the world's food supply. Family Farmers across this country will lead 
the world in the production of a safe, secure food supply. In order for 
tomorrow's agriculture community to meet the need of an ever growing 
population, we must have a clearly defined timetable for agriculture's 
biotechnology approval process, while ensuring the safety of our 
environment. This reason for this is simple; it is the law of supply 
and demand. As demand for food rises, more efficient, higher yielding 
crops, which are more resistant to weeds and pests will be needed to 
feed 9.1 billion people. Providing a defined timetable for the approval 
process of agriculture biotechnology will provide certainty to make 
decisions and encourage companies to make investments in biotechnology 
products, which in turn will create jobs and provide the United States 
with the ability to meet the world's food needs.
  The Plant Protection Act of 2000 (7 USC Sec. 7701 et seq.) as 
amended, directs the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) 
to regulate biotech organisms and plants in order to ensure no biotech 
product poses a risk to the environment. However, the regulatory 
uncertainty created by APHIS not following their own timetable hinders 
job creation and stifles innovative agriculture breakthroughs that will 
lead to a safer, more secure food supply. That is why I am proud to 
introduce the Expediting Agriculture Through Science Act, otherwise 
known as the EATS Act, which clearly defines the amount of time to 
approve or deny a petition for non-regulated status for biotech crops. 
Countries throughout the world are developing and implementing biotech 
crops that produce more and cost less. In today's global economy, 
Congress must act quickly to ensure family farmers in the United States 
maintain their superiority in the biotech field and continue to compete 
globally.
  A clearly defined timetable to approve a petition for biotech crops 
allows businesses to plan and invest in the biotech field while 
maintaining the protections needed to ensure any biotech product 
introduced into the environment poses no threat to the environment. The 
EATS Act will simply codify the current time limit in Sec. 340.6 of the 
Federal Code of Regulations, which is currently 180 days. Under current 
agency practice, APHIS is not following the 180 day time limit for 
approval or denial of the petition. The EATS Act gives APHIS 180 days 
to approve or deny a petition for non-regulated status with an 
additional 60 days if needed to ensure the safety of our environment 
and compliance is met before deeming the petition approved.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House (and Senate) to 
support me in passing the EATS Act in order to ensure the agricultural 
community can compete globally and meet the food supply needs of the 
world.

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