DeLauro to Work to End Privatization of Food Stamp Program

DeLauro to Work to End Privatization of Food Stamp Program,
Conflicts of Interest at FDA in Agriculture Appropriations Bill

- Amendment to Prevent FDA Conflicts of Interest Accepted by House Conferees -

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3), ranking member of the House Appropriations Agriculture subcommittee, today said that she would work to end the proposed privatization of the food stamp program and reduce conflicts of interests with FDA advisory board members in the Fiscal Year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The House conferees accepted an amendment offered by DeLauro that requires 15-day advance notice on conflict of interest waivers before FDA meetings. The measure is still pending before the Senate conferees. The House-Senate Conference on the bill began today. Following is the text of DeLauro's opening statement as prepared for delivery.

"Mr. Chairman, this is my first conference as ranking member and I want to say how pleased I am to be here. I have enjoyed my working relationship with Chairman Bonilla and I look forward to working with Senator Bennett and Senator Kohl today and in the future.

"I know that the subcommittee staffs have been meeting for several weeks to iron out the numerous differences between the House and Senate bills. They have accomplished a lot, and we certainly appreciate all of their hard work. But there are still several issues we must resolve here.

"And I would urge that we keep going today until we have fully disposed of all open issues and any issues members of the conference wish to bring to our attention. I am ready to cancel my schedule for as long as necessary - to finish this important work. With our subcommittee's long history of bi-partisan cooperation, I believe we can get through the issues before us, given enough time.

"I would like to take a moment to review some of the major areas that are still open in the hope that we may consider them today.

"One very important issue relates to a provision in the Senate bill, authored by Senators Harkin and Specter, that addresses what may become a trend to privatizing key government responsibilities, including aspects of the Food Stamp Program. The Senate bill contains language that may have to be redrafted but that addresses this critical question. We are appropriating $40 billion for the Food Stamp program in this bill, and this subcommittee has the right and the obligation to see that not only are the funds spent in accordance with the law, but also that the recipients are treated fairly and equally across America. I would urge my colleagues to support an effort to address this issue in this bill.

"In the FDA area, there are several important issues before us.

"The first is the question of controlling the conflict of interest waivers that FDA has been issuing for members of its advisory committees. The House bill contains language offered by our colleague, Congressman Hinchey, which was adopted by the House on a roll call vote. It would instruct FDA, for one year, to stop allowing members who have conflicts of interest to vote on these advisory committees - that they can serve and they can speak, but they cannot vote. The Senate bill contains language that would allow them to vote but would give the public some advance notice in most cases that waivers for voting members were being issued.

"My language would say that the cut-off point is 15 days before the meeting. This will ensure that FDA address conflicts of interest early and that the public gets the information it needs about conflict of interest waivers ahead of a committee meeting to be able to evaluate the committee's decisions in the light of that information.

"FDA's scientific integrity has been brought into question on many fronts in recent years - this is one area in which we can protect its advisory committee process from undue influence.

"Another issue within FDA's jurisdiction is Senate language relating to the sale of contact lenses. Chairman Bennett authored this language and I know he is committed to it. He has brought a very important consumer issue to our attention. At the same time, there are a number of questions as to its effect on consumers.

"A third FDA issue is prescription drug reimportation, which has been in the House bill since subcommittee. Almost every year since 2000, we have gone through a charade of putting in limitation language—which does not directly address the issue but which is the only kind of language that is in order—and then dropping it in the middle of the night. But the issue of high drug prices is still with us—it is the most important issue for seniors today—and we should address it directly in this conference.

"Another important issue to me is COOL - country of origin labeling. While the House bill prohibits implementation of COOL for meat for 1 year, the Senate bill is silent. I would hope that the conferees will agree to drop the House provision and let this common-sense measure, included in the Farm Bill nearly 4 years ago, finally move forward.

"In addition, both the House and Senate bills include identical language prohibiting the use of federal funds to slaughter horses for food. Each provision was adopted by a wide margin in roll call votes.

"I understand that individual Members may have opposed the language when it was debated but I would also urge them to consider the strong votes in the House—the will of the Congress—on this issue.

"There are, of course, other issues of interest that remain unsettled. But I believe these issues in particular deserve our attention, our careful consideration, so that we can come to a satisfactory resolution that addresses the underlying concerns of all interested parties and fulfill the responsibilities with which this conference has been entrusted.

"Again, I have enjoyed working with the chairman, the committee staff on both sides, and all my fellow conferees on this bill. I believe that we can take pride in the progress we have made in significantly improving the legislation and hope we can further today. Thank you."

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/October/ag_approps_work_10_25_05.html