Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2015

Floor Speech

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AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. THOMPSON OF CALIFORNIA

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.

The Clerk read as follows:

Page 2, line 14, after the first dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.

Page 2, line 21, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.

Page 2, line 22, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced by $1,000,000)''.

Page 6, line 23, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $1,000,000)''.

Mr. THOMPSON of California (during the reading). Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading.

The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?

There was no objection.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 616, the gentleman from California and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.

Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this amendment authored by myself and Mr. Huffman from California.

Our amendment would help support the USDA Office of the Inspector General by providing them with additional resources to protect our Nation's food supply.

In February of this year, Rancho Feeding, a slaughterhouse bordering my district, recalled 8.7 million pounds of beef that it produced in the year 2013. That is no small recall. Unfortunately, the USDA was slow to share information about the nature of the recall and what would happen to the beef already processed by the Rancho facility.

From the beginning of this recall, public safety has been our number one concern. We can't let food get out that puts the health and safety of the American people at risk. That is why it is important that the Office of the Inspector General have the support it needs from Congress to do its job and ensure our food is safe. This amendment provides them with that additional support.

Jobs, businesses, and livelihoods are on the line. The longer this investigation drags on, the more uncertainty businesses face. Following the results of the investigation, USDA must put in place practices and procedures that prevent this type of recall from occurring in the future.

I want to thank my colleague and friend, Mr. Huffman, for working closely with me on this issue. He and I both represent ranchers affected by this recall. He has shared my frustration during the past few months.

If you support protecting our food supply and ensuring the integrity of USDA programs, then I urge you to support this amendment.

I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).

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