Moore Praises Suspension of Plans to Close FDA Lab in Lenexa

Press Release

Moore Praises Suspension of Plans to Close FDA Lab in Lenexa

House adopts Stupak-Moore amendment to prohibit lab closure

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Congressman Dennis Moore (KS-03) praised the decision this week by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to suspend its plans to close seven of 13 laboratories throughout the country, including one in Lenexa, Kansas.

Moore toured the Lenexa FDA laboratory on March 30, 2007, and then denounced plans to close the Lenexa laboratory at a press conference with Mayor Mike Boehm of Lenexa, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (KS-02), Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver (MO-05), and representatives from the offices of Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06), Senators Pat Roberts (KS), Sam Brownback (KS), Claire McCaskill (MO), and Kit Bond (MO).

"It is unfortunate Congress had to launch an investigation into these plans to convince the FDA and Administration that food safety is a priority," Moore said. "I am glad the Kansas City congressional delegation was able to speak with one voice on the important role the Lenexa lab plays in our region."

Moore authored and 26 other Members of Congress signed a letter to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach on February 8, 2007, requesting that the commissioner halt plans to consolidate the FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) laboratories from 13 facilities to as few as six. Moore was also joined by 18 Representatives on February 26, 2007, in writing House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (MI-15) to request the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations conduct a hearing on proposed plans to close seven FDA laboratories. The subcommittee held two oversight hearings on the matter.

On June 11, 2007, Moore wrote a letter, joined by Boyda, Cleaver, Graves and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (MO-04), to House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (WI-07) and House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and FDA Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), requesting that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Agriculture/FDA Appropriations Act include specific language halting funding for the closure of the FDA laboratories, including the laboratory in Lenexa.

Moore and House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Bart Stupak (MI-01) offered an amendment to H.R. 3161, the FY 2008 Agriculture/FDA Appropriations Act, which stipulated that no funds appropriated to the FDA could be used to terminate or consolidate any of the 13 field laboratories. The House adopted the amendment and passed H.R. 3161 this week by a vote of 237-18.

"The American people continue to be concerned about the safety of the food we eat," said Moore. "These labs are of utmost importance in testing our nation's food supply. Now is the time to be increasing and improving the capabilities of our FDA labs, not shutting them down."

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