As Germany struggles with its deadly e.coli outbreak, a new proposal in the House could dramatically set back food safety efforts in the United States.
The proposal would cut more than $200 million from the FDA's budget and would prevent the FDA from putting in place food-safety prevention efforts approved just six months ago by Congress. Meanwhile, other plans call for spending $200 million on a program that gives grants to large grower cooperatives to promote their goods overseas.
Reducing our deficit is important, but it shouldn't come at the expense of making our food less safe. Tell your Representative to oppose any plan that would weaken our nation's food safety program.
Dear [Decision Maker],
As Germany struggles to deal with its deadly food safety outbreak, I urge you to oppose dramatic cuts to food safety programs in the Agriculture Appropriations bill (HR 2112) that would undercut efforts to modernize our outdated food safety system.
Just six short months ago Congress approved a bipartisan bill modernizing our antiquated food safety laws, and I urge you to make sure those reforms are implemented to protect me and my family from the ever-changing risks in our food supply.
As you consider the Agriculture Appropriations Bill, I urge you to oppose dramatic cuts to food safety programs next fiscal year at the FDA. The current bill would slash more than $200 million from the agency's proposed budget, a cut that would undermine its ability to carry out the new bipartisan food-safety law.
Meanwhile, plans call for spending $200 million to promote U.S. agriculture in foreign markets -- a program that gives grants to such large grower cooperatives as Sunkist, Welch's and Blue Diamond to promote their goods overseas.
(Your Comments Here)
I know these are difficult economic times for our country, but I urge you to work with your colleagues on common-sense measures that do not seriously undercut the Food and Drug Administration's ability to keep our food supply as safe as possible.
