U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Kay Hagan both voted to pass a landmark food safety bill in the Senate this morning, staff writer Barb Barrett reports.
The bill is the largest overhaul of food safety regulations in more than 70 years, and both North Carolina senators made the news in the months-long debate over the legislation, called the FDA Food Safety Enhancement Act, or S510.
Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, is a co-sponsor of the bill. He drew attention recently when he opposed an amendment by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California that would have banned bisphenol A, or BPA, in baby bottles and sippy cups.
Feinstein cited Burr by name as one of the senators blocking her amendment. It was not included in the final bill.
Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, co-sponsored the Tester-Hagan amendment that exempts small farms from federal oversight. The amendment requires farms and food processing facilities with less than $500,000 in annual sales to submit to state and local regulation.
A food-borne outbreak traced to a small farm would remove the exemption and bring in federal oversight.
The bill passed 73-25. It now goes to the House for passage.
Comments
"Food Bill Folly"
December 1, 2010 - 12:04am — pencilpusher2If the "system " worked as it should with efficiency, justice and truth this bill would work.
Unfortunately, I feel you are absolutely correct because the Federal System is not this way, not even in these United States that claim to be so great.
this stinks...
November 30, 2010 - 11:09pm — shirty55as put forth above....this is a BAD bill. burry boy should have known that 'cause the pathetic one....hagan voted for it. we are watching you burry boy and right now you have failed. this will NOT protect our food supply any better than it would with all the regs we have currently. we don't have the bodies to look after it all. but they snuck a tax in and we will all pay. way to go burry boy....you are one down.
once again richard burr
November 30, 2010 - 3:30pm — daisydukeonce again richard burr protects the chemical industry's profits and not the children of america.
1.4 billion
November 30, 2010 - 2:09pm — yourkillingmeI guess they found another jar of money buried in China or under the Fed. Well maybe it will generate 1.4 billiion in new taxes, if not we can't afford it.
Food Bill
November 30, 2010 - 1:55pm — Mona_PicklesYa mean Dicky actually voted "yea" for something?
Wonders never cease.
food bill passed
November 30, 2010 - 1:35pm — pcivoicequess that is a good thing unless people can't afford to buy food anyway. Wish they would focus on the issues of unemployment and feeding people and helping them keep from loosing their houses and so forth. We bailed out the banks but I don't see anyone bailing out those who are suffering from loosing their jobs.
Wow, I wonder how they got
November 30, 2010 - 1:05pm — oldrwizrWow, I wonder how they got Burr to vote for something that helps people. I mean, this HAS to be a first for that slimeball.
Yay, Burr!
November 30, 2010 - 12:50pm — newtonI love me some BPA in my baby bottles!
Food Bill Folly
November 30, 2010 - 11:49am — AcesHighThe Food Bill WON'T make food safer but WILL raise food costs, further empower the already over zealous FDA, and increase the budget deficit.
Umm ????
November 30, 2010 - 11:25am — rogergthreeIt would be nice if you had let us know what the bill will do rather than what it won't do. Typical N&O reporting.
Umm ????
November 30, 2010 - 11:25am — rogergthreeIt would be nice if you had let us know what the bill will do rather than what it won't do. Typical N&O reporting.