Washington, D.C. – Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) addressed more than 1000 food safety and food processing professionals today at the 2003 Food Safety Summit in Washington, D.C.

Senator Cochran discussed the safety of the nation's food supply during this time of increased risk of biological and chemical terrorism. He focused on the need for the different departments of the federal government and the food safety industry to work together effectively to continue to ensure a safe food supply for our country and the world.

Senator Cochran is the Chairman of the new Homeland Security panel on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and he is the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

Comments from Senator Cochran's speech will be available after 1:00 p.m. (Eastern) on the Senator's voicemail news line and on the Senator's web site at www.senate.gov/~cochran. You may record these statements as needed for newscasts or news stories.

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Beth Day, Press Secretary: (202) 224-6404
Jenny Reeves, Deputy Press Secretary: (202) 224-6408