Saxby Chambliss: “I regret to have had to vote against cloture. Now that cloture has been invoked, I guess we will go to the bill, and…”

“I regret to have had to vote against cloture. Now that cloture has been invoked, I guess we will go to the bill, and, hopefully, we can make the necessary changes in it to improve this bill. But, frankly, the bill I originally cosponsored is not the bill that is coming to the floor today. It has been changed in some material ways. As late as this morning there were changes being made, and I understand there are discussions going on right now that may even change it again. First, let me say that the issue of food safety is an issue that is of primary importance. We need to make sure the food that is put in the retail stores as well as in restaurants and every other location in America is absolutely the safest, highest quality food product anywhere in the world. That has always been our reputation. But there are some gaps in the food safety inspection program in the United States today that have allowed some things to happen.”