The FDA's final rule mandates that approximately 300,000 restaurants and similar retail food establishments comply with the rule by December 1, 2015.

the grim reality is right now sequester is the law of the land. It is not a policy. It is not a choice. It is a law, and it is a law that was passed by Congress, signed by the President.

I think the increased visibility of inspectors, food inspectors, U.S. food inspectors, is important.

But there were gaps in when people knew information. And it led me believe that if those gaps did not exist, then that would be one less question we would have to ask about our system.

Well, let me just say there is a lot of skepticism about this. And over the years, we have seen these type of proposals that would make some giant food safety agency.

the progress that has occurred so far is really not that acceptable.

Thank you. And like I said, as you move forward, keep us posted on that. We would very much appreciate that.

I do think, absent some sort of negotiation that is initiated at levels well above the pay grade of anybody on this panel, this is where we are going to end up.

People have got to sit down and start talking about this and not talking past one another or politically positioning themselves.

I hope that during the comment period that we would solicit additional information by virtue of your comments and questions today.

I have never seen a willingness of the Federal Government to really assess these capabilities and re-prioritize them.

Okay. Well, thank you all for being here this afternoon, and that concludes our hearing.