[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12535]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1020
                       LOUISIANA SEAFOOD IS SAFE

  (Mr. MELANCON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. MELANCON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of thousands of 
Louisiana families that have worked tirelessly in the seafood industry 
to deliver shrimp, oysters, crab and countless varieties of fish to 
restaurants and markets across this country.
  While the news coverage of the BP oil spill is constantly reminding 
us that we are facing the largest environmental disaster in our 
Nation's history, it is imperative that we prevent another disaster 
from developing, that of the death of the Louisiana seafood industry.
  I come to the floor today to let you know that Louisiana seafood on 
the market is safe to eat. There's daily testing, as never before, of 
all seafood catches, by local, State, Federal experts and scientists.
  To aide in this oversight, Congressman Boyd of Florida and I sent a 
letter to the President requesting that a seafood safety task force be 
assembled. Their mission would be to further ensure the safety and 
wholesomeness of gulf-harvested commercial seafood products that are 
being presently gathered.
  Some areas of our coastline are now closed to fishing. These closures 
are necessary and should underscore our steadfast commitment to 
consumer safety. But the world must know that approximately 40 percent 
of our oyster areas are open and harvesting, and 70 percent of our 
coast remains open to commercial and recreational fishing.

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