Federal Food Safety Efforts
Rep. Henry Waxman, Chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee has introduced legislation increasing the Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) authority in food safety. This bill creates sweeping reforms including:
- Requiring processors to register with FDA on an annual basis
- Removing the "reasonable belief" clause in record investigations, therefore allowing FDA access to all records from the farm to the processor level (without a confidentiality requirement for proprietary information)
- Granting FDA mandatory recall and regional quarantine authority
- Requiring FDA to establish a product-tracing system
The bill has been introduced and heard in the Energy & Commerce Committee. The House Ag Committee is trying to get jurisdiction over this bill, as is the House Ways & Means Committee due to potential impacts on trade. The House Agriculture Committee had a general hearing on food safety this week in order to try to increase its influence on House Leadership for authority over this bill. The Committee heard from experts at USDA and other stakeholders about already existing authorities and food safety practices.
Bonus Depreciation
On Thursday, July 16, Senator Barbara Boxer introduced legislation that would change the service date for permanent crops to the date the crop was planted. This adjustment allows farmers to take an additional first year depreciation deduction equal to 50 percent of the basis in the property for capital assets placed in service. As it currently stands, farmers cannot take this depreciation until the crop sees its first harvest. So, even if a crop is planted in 2009, it does not qualify for bonus depreciation. Ag Council has joined a large coalition of agricultural groups supporting the introduction of this bill.
Longley Seeks Reappointment
Karl Longley, current chair of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, is seeking reappointment to the board, as his term expires on September 30, 2009. Karl comes from a farming background, is Emeritus Dean of Engineering and Computer Science at Fresno State and serves as the Water Resources Coordinator at the California Water Institute. He’s extremely knowledgeable about water quality issues affecting irrigated agriculture, urban areas and industry. He’s well respected within the agricultural community and the Ag Council will be supporting his reappointment to the regional board.
Legislative Update
With the State Budget situation remaining in limbo, there were no significant developments this week relating to bills of interest to agriculture. The legislature is scheduled to commence its Summer Recess today and reconvene on August 17. However, the Senate postponed their recess and will convene on Monday. The Assembly will remain out until called back by the Speaker when a deal is finally reached between the governor and legislative leadership.
During the Summer Recess, In the Know will be distributed intermittently based on news developments in Sacramento. Regular distribution will commence when the legislature returns from their summer break.
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