DeGette Questions Bush Administration's Proposal to Close FDA Labs
The Bush Administration has proposedconsolidating FDA food and drug safety labs including the facility atthe Denver Federal Center in Lakewood. Belinda Collins, the Director ofthe Denver District office, testified at today's hearing.
Below are Ms. DeGette's remarks as prepared for delivery:
"Thankyou, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate your continued diligence in conductingthis committee's investigation of recent food safety scares. This is atopic of the utmost concern for the American people.
"At thissubcommittee's first hearing on this topic in April, we heardgut-wrenching stories from victims of these contaminations. Theirtestimony went beyond the headlines and gave us a look at thedevastation brought upon families by the negligence of companies andpublic officials alike. We also heard from the companies thattransmitted contaminated food to consumers and learned more about whatwent wrong.
"Today our focus is on the FDA itself, where seriousconcerns have surfaced with regards to the recent spate of food-borneillnesses. It has become clear that the FDA's efforts to anticipate,prevent, and respond to these outbreaks is far from adequate.
"Theagency has also been far from forthcoming with this subcommittee in ourattempt to investigate its actions leading up to and following theseincidents. I expect to find out today why there has not been morecooperation with our investigation, but more importantly, why the FDAhas not been more proactive in its efforts to safeguard the nation'sfood and drug supply.
"I want to focus my comments and questionsthis morning on one particularly disturbing aspect of thissubcommittee's investigation.
"The FDA, in its proposedreorganization of the Office of Regulatory Affairs, has slated forclosure over half of its food and drug safety field laboratories.
"Oneof the seven labs targeted is the Denver laboratory, located justoutside of my congressional district in Lakewood, Colorado. Closingthis lab would affect approximately 50 chemists, microbiologists, andanalysts. These dedicated employees perform highly specializedanalysis of BSE, also known as Mad Cow Disease, food pathogens like E.Coli and Salmonella, food additives, and human and veterinary drugs.
"TodayI would like to find out how the FDA can justify closing one of thenation's preeminent food and drug safety research laboratories-especially at a time when there are almost daily revelations aboutcontaminated food.
"This morning I have the pleasure ofwelcoming Ms. Belinda Collins, the Director of the Denver District ofthe FDA, who will testify today about the important work currentlybeing done at the Denver lab, as well as the risks to public health ofshuttering the facility. Thank you so much for being here.
"ThoughI have met these talented scientists at the Denver lab and know thevalue they create for the FDA, my interest is not simply parochial. Iam sensitive to the budgetary pressures facing federal agencies andwould be willing to consider meaningful agency changes if there wasdemonstrated evidence that these changes would eliminate waste andduplications, appropriately trim costs, and increase efficiency whileimproving public health. However in this case, such evidence does notexist.
"In fact, just the opposite is true. The FDA itselfrated the Denver lab as in "good condition," while the Atlanta lab,which will remain open under the current plan, was rated "fair topoor." The GAO has determined that mid-sized regional labs, like inDenver, are more appropriate than the "mega-labs" FDA wants to create. Additionally, the director of the Denver district will tell us thismorning that food safety and indeed homeland security in the RockyMountain region and nationwide will be compromised if this plan iscarried out.
"Despite this overwhelming evidence of the Denverlab's effectiveness, the FDA is holding its position and moving forwardwith the closure. It has cited nebulous future cost concerns, withoutproviding this committee or the American people with evidence to backit up. There are claims about increased efficiencies, again, withoutanalysis or documentation. Some officials have said that facilitiesand equipment are falling apart, but this runs entirely counter to whatemployees tell us and what committee staff have found on site visits.
"Andwith all of this talk of economic costs, it is disturbing that the FDAhas given no thought to the cost of decommissioning these labs, thecost of not catching the next foodborne outbreak as quickly, or thecost of losing employees with decades of scientific expertise.
"We,in Congress, are not without blame in this fiasco. I have no doubtthat FDA needs additional resources to adapt to emerging threats likeincreased imports and bioterrorism. But this administration, insteadof doing quantifiable and verifiable analyses of agency needs andrequesting funding accordingly, is simply cutting corners to makepolitical statements about size of government while, we've learned, political appointees in Washington take home huge bonuses.
"Itis also disconcerting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesnot feel compelled to answer questions put to it by the legislativebranch. The FDA has not responded to my inquiries about the labclosures. It has not responded to my questions from previous hearingson medical devices and other issues in our health subcommittee. Andrequests for documents by this subcommittee, charged with oversight ofthe FDA, have been met with needless delay in some cases and silence inothers.
"I would like to mention one more thing, Mr.Chairman. As I have noted before, these investigatory hearings almostinevitably result in strange coincidences, like positive industry andagency developments, the night before the hearing. For example, todaywe will also dive into the continuing problem of companies packagingspoiled meat and seafood with carbon monoxide to create the appearanceof freshness.
"Well, just by chance, today Safeway announced that it will no longer package food with carbon monoxide.
"Mr.Chairman, I would also like to request unanimous consent to enter intothe record a statement by Congressman Ed Perlmutter, who represents thesuburbs of Denver and sits on the Homeland Security Committee, andwhose district includes the Denver lab slated for closure.
"Thank you Mr. Chairman."
DeGettewill soon be reintroducing soon two key food safety bills. The first,The SAFER (Safe and Fair Enforcement & Recall) Act for all foods,would give the USDA and FDA the authority to force a recall of allcontaminated foods. Under current law, recalls are completelyvoluntary even when public health is at risk. The United States is oneof the only industrialized countries in the world that lacks this basicrecall power, despite having the ability to recall toys and many otherproducts. Giving these agencies this critical authority would speedthe removal of tainted meat from circulation and significantly reducethe risk of food-borne illness.
The second, The TRACE (Tracingand Recalling Agricultural Contamination) Act, would authorize theSecretary of Agriculture to establish a product tracing system to trackmeat products from their animal origins to the grocery store, enablingfaster recall in the event of contamination. This proposal will assistconsumers and retailers in identifying and removing tainted productsfrom refrigerators and store shelves.