NEWS RELEASE

Committee on Energy and Commerce
Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman

Dingell Statement on Leavitt Visit

Rep. John D. Dingell (D-15) made the following statement in response to a visit by Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to a Meijer Store in Allen Park, Michigan today to discuss import safety:

“I’m pleased to welcome Secretary Leavitt to the great State of Michigan and I thank him for acknowledging an issue that’s of great concern to families and communities across our state – ensuring the safety of our food, drug and consumer product imports.

“With nearly 500 products, more than 20 million toys, and millions of pounds of food recalled this year, it’s clear that our national system for protecting consumers is broken. This year, Congress has developed some significant consumer protection reforms to begin addressing these problems. I am pleased the Administration has also recognized the great threat posed by tainted imports, but it is the Administration itself that has actively contributed to the decline in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to do its job.

“It is clear that both the FDA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission do not have the resources and authority needed to ensure the safety of our imports, yet the Administration’s budget for these agencies is shamefully inadequate. I hope Secretary Leavitt, along with other key Administration leaders, will expand upon the recommendations included in a recent import safety proposal to address the critical issue of funding. In addition, I strongly encourage the Administration to support our legislation to strengthen these agencies.”

- 30 -