Disapproving A Rule Submitted By The Department Of Labor
Floor Speech
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Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I strongly urge the Senate to reject the motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 28. This resolution would overturn a catfish inspection rule that is working to protect American consumers. Congress directed the Department of Agriculture to write this rule in both the 2008 and 2014 farm bills. It did so based on evidence that the inspection regime then in place was inadequate.
Almost all catfish consumed in the United States is raised on farms in controlled environments. The Department of Agriculture, or the USDA, is the most experienced and well-equipped agency to ensure that farm- raised meat products, including catfish, are as safe as possible.
Since assuming responsibility of catfish inspection just a few week ago, the Department of Agriculture has intercepted and impounded two large shipments of foreign catfish contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals banned for use in the United States. Prior to the implementation of the rule, less than 2 in 1,000 catfish products entering the United States was laboratory tested. If it were not for the rule that S.J. Res. 28 seeks to nullify, this dangerous foreign fish would be in the U.S. food supply today.
Sponsors of this resolution have said that the catfish rule is costly. This is not true. The Congressional Budget Office has said that this resolution won't save a dime. Sponsors of this resolution have said that the catfish rule is duplicative. This is untrue. The Food and Drug Administration ceased all catfish inspections on March 1 of this year. The Department of Agriculture is the only agency charged with inspecting catfish. Sponsors of this resolution have said that the catfish rule creates an artificial trade barrier. This is untrue. The Department has stated that the rule is compliant with the World Trade Organization's equivalency standard and would not violate its principles.
Adoption of this resolution would not change the law. It would only call into question and potentially halt the ability of the U.S. Government to carry on important activities authorized by law to keep American consumers safe.
It is clear that the inspection rule is working as intended to protect U.S. consumers. Congress was right in twice mandating these inspections, and reconsidering that decision would be a poor use of the Senate's time.
I hope Senators will reject the motion to proceed to this resolution.
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