NEWS RELEASE

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

Dingell Responds to Bush Administration Import Safety Proposal

Working Group Recommends Agency Expansions, Fails to Mention Funding

The following is a statement from Rep. John D. Dingell, Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, in response to a proposal released by the Bush administration today to expand the authority of the Food and Drug Administration and Consumer Product Safety Commission:

“I am pleased the President finally recognizes the threat of tainted imports to consumers. Unfortunately, there is little new information in today’s announcement. In fact, the critical issue of funding is curiously absent from the proposal. The Congress is now considering legislation to provide the necessary authority and funding for these agencies to begin to protect the public safety. I invite President Bush to join in support of such legislation. I also plan to hold a hearing on these proposals at the earliest possible date to determine whether they respond to the problems our Committee has uncovered since the beginning of the year.”

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