Health - Food Safety

Food Safety - H.R. 4167, "The National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005"

April 18, 2006
Letter from Gov. Schwarzenegger opposing H.R. 4167

April 18, 2006
Rep. Waxman wrote to C. Manly Molpus of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) in order to ask for clarification of the GMA's views on the impacts of H.R. 4167, proposed legislation to remove state and local governmental authority to guarantee the safety of the food supply.
Letter to C. Manly Molpus

March 15, 2006
Rep. Waxman wrote to the Food Products Association in order to clarify recent statements the group made about state regulation of food safety.
Letter to Cal Dooley

March 9, 2006
On March 9, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4167, "The National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005", which will hamper California's - and all states' - ability to implement laws regulating food safety. Rep. Waxman led opposition to this dangerous bill that could preempt more than 200 state protecting consumers, including California's Proposition 65.

“We are confident that opposition will only grow as this bill moves to the Senate. As more Americans learn about the impact of this radical bill, they will demand more – not fewer – protections, and urge the Senate to undo the damage the House did today.”
- Consumer Federation of America and ConsumersUnion.org

"This bill is only fairly called a “uniformity” bill in that it forces states to do a uniformly poor job in protecting consumers where the Food and Drug Administration fails to act.The Senate should block this reckless rollback of food-safety laws."
- Center for Science in the Public Interest

"Instead of protecting public health, the U.S. House of Representatives catered to powerful corporate interests today by passing H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act."
- US PIRG

Currently, state and local governments conduct approximately 80% of food safety activity. H.R. 4167 could radically shift the balance of power between the states and federal government, taking a historically state role and giving it to the federal government.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that H.R. 4167 may cost taxpayers $100 million over the next few years, with unknown additional costs on the federal government and state and local governments.

H.R. 4167 was sent to the House floor without the benefit of a single congressional hearing.  Dozens of public health and environmental groups, 39 State Attorney Generals, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the Association of Food and Drug Officials, and many other groups have all expressed their strong opposition to this legislation, but have never been given an opportunity to explain their concerns to Congress.

Fact Sheets
Statements of Opposition to H.R. 4167 from the States and Other Groups
Letter from Governors to House Rules Committee Chairman and Ranking Member (March 7) Newspaper Editorials and Articles in Opposition to H.R. 4167
Rep. Waxman's Statement on House Floor During Debate on the Rule
Rep. Waxman's Statement on the House Floor During General Debate
Dear Colleagues
Letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (March 7)

February 8, 2006
Rep. Waxman and Rep. Bono write to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to explain the harmful impacts of H.R. 4167 on California’s families and to encourage him to oppose this legislation. In addition to eliminating many of California’s day-to-day food safety programs, the National Uniformity for Food Act would destroy the long-standing public health protections of California’s Proposition 65, which requires warnings on foods containing chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects. 
Letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger

February 1, 2006
Rep. Waxman and 10 Members of Congress file dissenting views on food uniformity legislation to explain why they strongly oppose the radical legislation.
Dissenting Views

December 15, 2005
Without any hearings or Subcommittee consideration, the House Energy and Commerce Committee considered legislation to make sweeping changes to the nation’s food safety laws. Rep. Waxman opposes the legislation as “dangerous and irresponsible,” stating that it would leave a “critical gap” in our food safety defenses. The legislation would also preempt California’s successful and popular Proposition 65 – a twenty year old state measure to notify consumers when they are exposed to carcinogens or reproductive toxins. Rep. Waxman also offered an amendment at the markup to ensure that the legislation does not affect State measures that require companies to provide information that will allow parents or guardians to understand, monitor, or limit a child’s exposure to cancer-causing agents or reproductive or developmental toxins. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated on a party-line vote.
Rep. Waxman’s Statement on H.R. 4167
Rep. Waxman’s Statement on the Waxman Amendment
Waxman Amendment

December 9, 2005
Rep. Waxman and 4 Members of Congress, write to Chairman Barton requesting that he hold a hearing on the “National Uniformity for Foods Act of 2005” (H.R. 4167) prior to Committee markup because of its “far-reaching implications for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, as well as for states’ rights.” 
Letter to Chairman Barton