NEWS RELEASE

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

Dingell, Stupak Comment on FDA Decision
to Retain Field Labs

Washington, DC - Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), the Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has abandoned plans to close its field laboratories:

“FDA’s ill-conceived plan to take resources out of the field and concentrate them in Washington was a bad idea from the start. I am pleased that FDA finally listened to the serious concerns my Congressional colleagues and I have repeatedly expressed.

“As we heard in Tuesday’s hearing, the FDA’s mission is now at risk, which means the health and safety of the American people is also at risk. The answer to this problem certainly does not lie in closing FDA field labs and eliminating the positions of skilled and dedicated FDA employees who work tirelessly to keep the American people safe.”

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, issued the following statement:

“As concerns about the safety of imported food and drugs continue to mount, it makes no sense to further weaken our Nation’s badly frayed food and drug safety net.

“While I am pleased that FDA has shelved its flawed reorganization plan, much remains to be done. The GAO recently concluded that, due weaknesses at the FDA, ‘American lives are now at risk.’ Our Subcommittee will continue its vigorous oversight of the FDA to ensure that the agency fulfills its mission of protecting the health and safety of the American people.”

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