The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Brindisi pushes to reopen FDA, USDA
Freshman congressman talks federal shutdown at Cornell Cooperative Extension
ORISKANY, N.Y. >> With the government shutdown still in full effect, Congressman Anthony Brindisi is making an effort to re-open the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration for the safety of the public.
“This shutdown has real consequences for everyday people,” said Brindisi, D-22. “Stopping routine food safety inspections of seafood, fruits, vegetables and many other foods at high risk because of contamination because of the federal government’s shutdown is a recipe for disaster.”
Brindisi spoke to a crowd of almost 50 people on Monday, Jan. 14 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County in Oriskany to better explain the situation and what is being done.
“Domestic meat and poultry are still being inspected by USDA staff,” Brindisi said. “But they’re going without pay right now. Families, in my opinion, should not have to worry if the food they’re eating is safe. And government workers shouldn’t have to worry that those affected by the shutdown could have their
lives hung in the balance.”
Brindisi said according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, foodborne illnesses send about 128,000 people to the hospital every year — killing as many as 3,000.
“Our local food — our fruit, veggies and seafood — come from many different places,” Brindisi said. “Those places receive routine FDA food inspections we cannot afford to go without.”
To remedy the situation, Brindisi said he voted on the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Appropriations Act, which passed the House 243 to 183.
“I’ve been meeting with several representatives from across the country, both Democrats and Republicans,” Brindisi said. “And I’ve been trying to force leadership on both sides of the aisle to work out a compromise to this shutdown.”
Brindisi said the House bill in question is virtually identical to previous legislation that already passed the Republican Senate 926.
The bill ensures that the USDA and FDA are both able to operate through Sept. 30 and fully reinstates functioning food inspection protocol across the country.
“Families should have to worry if the food they’re eating is safe,” Brindisi said. “And farmers shouldn’t have to worry that government dysfunction could threaten their livelihood.”
Brindisi said he is asking the Senate and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on the bill.
“Mitch McConnell can act at any time to take the bills we pass at any time in the House,” Brindisi said.
The government shutdown has impacted almost everything and Brindisi said he has heard from his constituents.
“The longer this shutdown goes, the more people’s lives are going to be affected,” Brindisi said. “Workers not receiving a paycheck and services that are going unfilled. We’ve been hearing from a lot of farmers throughout the area who rely on programs such as Federal Emergency Loan programs who are not receiving that assistance right now. And this is at a time when many of our farmers, especially our dairy farmers, are already struggling to survive.”
On the topic of border security, the heart of the shutdown matter, Brindisi said he supports strong borders and wants to come to a compromise.
“If you listen to all the experts, they’ll say some elements of physical barriers where it makes sense are in order,” Brindisi said. “We need more border agents, we need more technology at our border crossings and ports of entries so trucks and shipping containers are inspected before coming into our country. But in the meantime, let’s get our government up and running. Let’s get our FDA and USDA inspectors up and running. And let’s move forward and end this impasse.”
When asked if he ever imagined his time in Congress to start as it did, Brindisi laughed.
“I was not expecting to be sworn in during a shutdown,” Brindisi said. “But seeing as we’re in this situation, I’m ready, willing and able to do everything I can to get the government up and running.”
When asked how it was looking in the House, Brindisi said there is a good groupof Democrats and Republicans who are looking to put forward some sort of compromise immediately.
“This dysfunction has to end,” Brindisi said.