[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 188 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H8266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




OVERREGULATING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ENDANGERS AMERICANS' JOBS AND HEALTH

  (Mr. HULTGREN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HULTGREN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my concern over 
another example of rampant government regulation.
  For 17 years, the Food and Drug Administration has sought to ignore 
congressional intent and create a vast new regulatory regime for 
dietary supplements. Millions of Americans, including many of my 
constituents and my family, rely on dietary supplements as part of 
their everyday health maintenance routine. Moreover, they play an 
important role in ensuring that people take individual responsibility 
for preventative health care. We all can agree that the FDA should not 
limit Americans' access to dietary supplements.
  In January President Obama issued an Executive order to ensure that 
the FDA's new rules will not limit access. Last week, the comment 
period on the FDA's draft guidance closed. Now that they've heard from 
the public, and now that I'm sure they've heard from countless 
Americans who share my concern, I urge them to go back to the drawing 
board and ensure that they do not limit Americans' access to dietary 
supplements.

                          ____________________