I believe that the schoolchildren who are eating this must know that rules count, that rules matter.

But the fact is, that we don't know if these animals that were portrayed on this video were, indeed, sick or not.

Thank you to Chairman Kohl and Ranking Member Bennett for holding this timely hearing on the Hallmark/Westland meat recall.

I think we have to be careful that everything on that video doesn't show animals that went into the food supply.

If you are there, Mr. Secretary, saying, 'Absolutely, that meat was all okay for everyone to eat,' then I've got to ask, 'Why was it recalled?'

I think that's a very poor requirement.

I think what we know is that the company did not call any veterinarian, did not call for veterinarian inspections after that.

I think there's some confusion.

I think the public requires it.

the idea that somehow you can detect an acute physical injury by a broken leg, and say that's the sole reason that the animal is down--

We can't just rely upon the company.

Are you short 500 inspectors?

we need a 'no downer' policy--as you said, Mr. Chairman, that's a bright-line policy that doesn't allow any of these animals into the food system, because we're being penny-wise, and pound-foolish.

The reason those rules are there is because downer cattle can be sick.

If there was no safety problems, why did we destroy 143 million pounds of beef, Mr. Secretary?

we had to recall 143 million pounds of beef, because we don't really know.

I actually chaired those hearings out there, and those guys--both brothers were sent to jail.

I'm not certain about this. That's something we've got to think about.