On the recordNovember 30, 2010
Senator Harkin and many on the HELP Committee have worked hard on the bill that is before us. But it has fatal flaws, especially at a time when there is a $14 trillion debt and a $1.3 trillion deficit, and it doesn't fix the real problem. We can spend $1.4 billion in this bill. We can cause food prices to go up at least $300 million to $400 million. We can put unfunded mandates on the States for $141 billion a year. That is what we will do if we reject this alternative. This accomplishes the same thing, given that we have the safest food in the world. We will continue to have the safest food in the world, we will move forward, but we won't do it by creating layers upon layers of additional costs and regulations. The problem with food safety is that the agencies don't do what they are supposed to be doing now. They need less regulation, not more. I yield the floor.
