Alcee Hastings: “we are fat. America is the fattest nation on the planet and getting fatter all the time. It is estimated that as many as…”

“we are fat. America is the fattest nation on the planet and getting fatter all the time. It is estimated that as many as one in five Americans is obese, a condition defined as being more than 30 percent above the ideal weight based on height. Being overweight and obese in the United States occurs at higher rates in racial and ethnic minority populations, such as African Americans and Hispanic Americans, compared with White Americans. Persons of low socioeconomic status within minority populations appear to be particularly affected by being overweight and obese. Also, according to the surgeon general, women of lower socioeconomic status are about 50 percent more likely to be obese than their better-off counterparts. Obesity is fast becoming our most serious public health problem. Indeed, obesity is linked to disease such as type-2 diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer. An estimated 300,000 Americans die each year from fat-related causes, and we spent $117 billion in obesity-related economic costs just last year, according to U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher. Congress should consider comprehensive legislation aimed at America's obesity epidemic. Instead, Mr. Speaker, here I stand debating a closed rule for a bill that pre-determines that in no plausible circumstance do food companies bear responsibility for their acts. This bill is so overbroad that it provides immunity even where most would think liability is appropriate.”