[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1159]
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, 2012

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                               speech of

                           HON. NIKI TSONGAS

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 14, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2112) making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. TSONGAS. Madam Chair, I missed votes on the day of June 16, 2011, 
because I traveled back to my district to attend the funeral service 
for a Marine killed in combat, Corporal William Woitowicz. Had I been 
present, I would have voted for amendments to the FY 2012 Agriculture, 
Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Act 
that encourage local and regional food systems and fund programs that 
support the work of minority and socially disadvantaged farmers. I also 
would have supported amendments that protect taxpayer funds by 
implementing modest restrictions on excessive farm subsidy payments.
  I would have voted against amendments that seek to delay the 
Commodity Futures Trading Commission's efforts to enforce commonsense 
rules on risky derivative swaps and other financial transactions, 
prevent the Department of Agriculture from implementing their climate 
change adaption policy, or propose deeper cuts to the FDA that would 
hinder the agency's ability to protect our nation's food supply from 
food-borne illnesses.
  Finally, I would have opposed passage of the overall FY 2012 
Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration 
Appropriations Act because of the bill's drastic and indefensible cuts 
to the Women, Infants, and Children, WIC, program, which provides vital 
aid for our nation's most vulnerable pregnant women, infants and 
children. In the last year, WIC provided nutritious food, counseling on 
healthy eating, and health care referrals to thousands of women and 
children in my state. Additionally, the underlying bill undermines 
commonsense financial rules, choosing to protect Wall Street 
speculators that are driving up gas prices over the American taxpayer. 
Likewise, I cannot support the deep cuts in FDA funding included in the 
bill that will severely undermine food safety efforts and increase the 
risk of food-borne illnesses.

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