Henry Brown: “I rise in support of the Rogers amendment to H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act. Unfortunately, in this day…”

“I rise in support of the Rogers amendment to H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act. Unfortunately, in this day and age we need to look at every piece of legislation that we consider through the eyes of those we ask to cope with the unthinkable, in this case a food emergency or bioterrorist situation. The last thing we want to do is unnecessarily handcuff the local, State and Federal officials who respond quickly in times of crisis. That is why I support this amendment. It would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to certify to the Congress that the National Uniformity for Food Act would not in any way inhibit the ability of local, State or Federal authorities to respond to a food emergency or bioterrorist event. {time} 1700 The bill cannot take effect until that certification, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, is complete. H.R. 4167 as originally written would have had no effect on a State's ability to respond to a food emergency or bioterrorist threat. The FDA and the States would continue to work together to cope with that type of situation. I, for one, am comforted by Mr. Rogers' amendment and ask my colleagues to support it unequivocally.”