Waxman And DeLauro Continue To Differ On Means Of Food Safety Reform
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Reps. Henry Waxman and Rosa DeLauro partner to bolster food safety, even as they differ on how to structure the Department of Health and Human Services to handle the responsibilities
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Reps. Henry Waxman and Rosa DeLauro partner to bolster food safety, even as they differ on how to structure the Department of Health and Human Services to handle the responsibilities. Both appeared at an April 29 press conference organized by the Make Our Food Safe Campaign to kick off a lobbying effort in support of food safety reform. Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, plans to fund and authorize FDA to enhance food safety activity. DeLauro, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee with FDA oversight, wants to remove food safety oversight from FDA's purview and form a separate Food Safety Administration within HHS. Asked if she would support food safety legislation that maintains FDA's current organization, the Connecticut Democrat only said her priority is working with Waxman, D-Calif., to generate "the strongest bill possible." DeLauro introduced the Food Safety Modernization Act, H.R. 875, in February. The bill has 40 co-sponsors and awaits action by Energy and Commerce (1 (Also see "Would Supplements’ Regulatory Home Change With A Separate Food Agency?" - Pink Sheet, 20 Apr, 2009.), p. 10). Waxman did not indicate splitting up FDA. "At some point in the future, we may look at another agency to monitor the food supply," he said. "But right now we want to get FDA going on this, and not try to spend any time at all creating a new bureaucracy." He added that FDA Commissioner-designate Margaret Hamburg and acting Commissioner Josh Sharfstein - a former Waxman health policy staffer - will ensure food safety has a place at FDA's table (2 (Also see "Sharfstein Takes “Acting” Title Literally, Starting FDA Overhaul" - Pink Sheet, 13 Apr, 2009.), p. 3). Waxman has expressed a preference for basing food safety reform on provisions of the FDA Globalization Act, H.R. 759, introduced by Michigan Democrats John Dingell and Bart Stupak (3 (Also see "FDLI/FDA Conference In Brief" - Pink Sheet, 27 Apr, 2009.), p. 14). - Dan Schiff ([email protected]) |