Bishop Votes Against Food Safety Funding

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), John Garamendi (CA-03), Jim Costa (CA-16), Lois Capps (CA-24), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Jim Himes (CT-04), Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Bill Enyart (IL-12), John Tierney (MA-06), Bill Keating (MA-09), Tim Walz (MN-01), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Rick Nolan (MN-08), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), Steve Israel (NY-03), Bill Owens (NY-21), Dan Maffei (NY-24), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), and Nick Rahall (WV-03)

Vote Today Leaves Public At Risk

Today, Tim Bishop once again left voters scratching their heads. Bishop voted against a common-sense measure to put food safety inspectors back on the job. Reports show that under President Obama’s government shutdown, many food facilities will not be inspected and families across the country will be put at risk.

“It’s beyond irresponsible for Tim Bishop to prevent food safety inspectors from getting back to work,” said NRCC Communications Director Andrea Bozek. “He is putting partisan politics ahead of doing what’s right for New York families. It’s one thing for Bishop to continue to support President Obama’s government shutdown, but to put food safety at risk by voting against this common-sense measure shows just how out-of-touch his priorities are.”

Tim Bishop Voted Against The Food And Drug Safety Act. (H.J. 77, Roll Call #528, 235-126, 10/7/13)

Because Of The Shutdown, The FDA Ceased Most Food-Safety Operations. “During the shutdown, the Food and Drug Administration will have to cease most of its food-safety operations. That includes ‘routine establishment inspections, some compliance and enforcement activities, monitoring of imports, notification programs (e.g., food contact substances, infant formula), and the majority of the laboratory research necessary to inform public health decision-making.’” (Brad Plumer, “The Nine Most Painful Impacts Of A Government Shutdown,” The Washington Post, 10/3/13)

Politico: The Shutdown Will Mean “No Government Oversight Of Practically Everything In The Grocery Store.” “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, responsible for 80 percent of the food supply, is halting routine food inspections. This means no government oversight of practically everything else in the grocery store. Also, most of the experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the group that identifies and tracks foodborne illnesses, have been told to stay home.” (Helena Bottemiller Evich And Tarini Parti, “Government Shutdown Stresses Food Inspections,” Politico, 10/2/13)