Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Betty Sutton voted in support of the Agriculture Appropriations Act, which will protect Americans' food safety, protect Americans against price fluctuations for necessities, help feed struggling families and boost rural economies. The bill includes $373 million in additional funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With this additional funding, the FDA will now receive $2.9 billion to help strengthen our nation's food safety. The House passed the measure by a 266 to 160 vote.

In February, Rep. Sutton introduced the Protect Consumers Act to give the FDA mandatory recall authority of contaminated food. Her bill was later included in the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, which passed out of the Committee on Energy and Commerce in June. The Act increases FDA regulatory powers over the national food supply and food providers. The bill now awaits a vote on the House floor.

"Americans should be able to trust that the food they eat and feed their families is safe," said Rep. Sutton. "We see new reports about food recalls or illnesses every week, and this additional funding for the FDA will help us reinstate the public's faith in the safety of their food."

Foodborne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The issue of food safety and foodborne illness has taken a disproportionate toll on Ohio over the past year, where 105 cases of Salmonella infection were reported.

Young children, pregnant and low-income women, senior citizens and persons with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk for foodborne illness and represent a large population in the 13th District of Ohio. This legislation protects these at-risk populations, who are increasingly faced with rising food costs and shrinking wages.

The legislation increases nutrition aid to families. It expands services to an additional 700,000 women and children and creates new programs to help ensure that American families do not go hungry and eat healthy.

The Agriculture Appropriations Act also protects consumers by giving the agency that regulates our commodities like energy and food, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the staff and resources it needs to do its job. Additional oversight will help protect Americans from needless price spikes in the cost of basic necessities. 

"Passing this bill helps families put nutritious food on the table through these tough times," Rep. Sutton said. "All Americans deserve access to healthy, sufficient and most of all safe food for their families."