Food Safety Bill Hits Speed Bump

Due to a terrible procedure, the Food Safety Modernization Act will have to wait until the end of the year, before reaching the president's office - if ever.

Since the bill contains costs for importers, producers or farmers whose products were recalled by the Food and Drug Administration. Some see this as a tax. Under the Constitution, the new tax measures must originate in the house.

"The Senate knows the rule and should follow the rule and must be familiar with the rule," Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said that, according to AFP.

"Nobody should be surprised by the rule. E 'in the Constitution, and has lectured and been reading and the Constitution. "

The bill, which passed with bipartisan support in both houses of Congress should go to a conference committee between the two chambers, each time for a new vote, then the president's desk for signature. It should be one of the signature achievements of the lame duck session of Congress.

Even simpler than that, there were indications that the House leaders were willing to accept the weaker version of the Senate measure, which would have allowed the camera to avoid a new vote on the bill.

Now their time is increasingly seen as a certainty, although Democrats say they are confident the bill can be approved at the end of the year.

But Republicans have vowed to block any measure that does not relate to taxes and spending.

The measure was brought to the forefront of political action, due to a rash of recent health crisis with eggs, peanut butter, spinach and milk.

According to Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), each year 76 million Americans suffer from foodborne illnesses can be avoided. 325,000 are hospitalized each year due to contamination of food and kill 5,000.

Under current law, those responsible for the distribution of contaminated products is responsible for the issuance of their recovery. The FDA can only suggest that the withdrawal will be published. The law could change the situation and give the FDA mandatory recall authority.

The bill also provides for more frequent inspections of food processing plants and better monitoring of the epidemic. FDA hiring new inspectors to meet.

Despite the defeat, the Democrats still maintained an optimistic tone about the potential passage of the bill.
"I think we have done. I think it will happen soon. Let's get something for the House to be moved. In a way, it will do. We're just looking for a way to do it," said Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA).

"Human error happens Nobody who tries to jam -. It's just human error, no one has made a fatal error is nothing here, nothing will kill this bill .."