I just don't know if I understand that. You're short 500 inspectors, but you say you're not short any inspectors in the slaughter lines, whatsoever.

But the company would have been shut down during this period of time, the line would have been shut down, Mr. Secretary, is that right?

The animals I saw in that video were approved by the inspector before that, is that what you're saying?

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

I think the public requires it.

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

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

I think that's a very poor requirement.

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

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

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

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

Do you need 500 more inspectors, or not?

Let me ask, let me delve a little further.

This incident raises numerous questions that I hope the Department of Agriculture can answer for us today.

the fact remains, there are rules in place to protect the safety of food.

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.