FDA and Congress: Hearing now
By Gina Spadafori
July 17, 2007
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has just started a hearing looking into the issue of whether or not the FDA is capable of doing the job of protecting the nation’s food and drug supply. Here’s a link to the committee site, with a video feed. CSPAN is also airing the hearing.
Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-KY, in his opening remarks:
50% of the American food supply is imported.
Comment by Maureen — July 17, 2007 @ 6:46 am
It’s going to be a good, long day. There’ll be some FDA inspector “squealers”. Three panels with Hubbard on Panel 2.
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 6:51 am
C-Span is airing the Vet webcast.
I’m listening/watching straight out of the House link:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/
It’s been on nearly 25 mins now. Still not on C-Span, not from their link for this…
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 6:59 am
Kat, It’s on CSPAN3 (not CSPAN or CSPAN2).
Rep. Marsha Blackburn was on message for big ag, though she painted her messages with simple anti-Chinese brush.
Comment by Maureen — July 17, 2007 @ 7:06 am
Thanks Maureen. You would think the link FOR the FDA on C-Span would REALLY link to it, but it links to the VET. I’ll just stick with where I am. It’s LIVE, straight from the HOUSE link. Thanks anyway.
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:16 am
No one has mentioned the fake pork.
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:23 am
Kat,
I’ve been mystified with CSPAN’s website, too. It’s hard to find their schedule. The best thing to do is to sign up for their free CSPAN alerts; they automatically send you their programming for the next day or two, late in the afternoon usually. The good thing about this is that they also alert you to what hearings, etc. are being repeated in the evening or on weekends.
Comment by Maureen — July 17, 2007 @ 7:29 am
The FDA has become the leading threat to Americans at this point. IMO
Comment by Steve — July 17, 2007 @ 7:32 am
I think/hope their clocks will be “cleaned” today — ha! Or, at least something will be kicked…
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:34 am
WE HAVE BEEN DUPED WITH THE “DETENTION” WITHOUT PHYSICAL INSPECTION IMPORT ALERT
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:42 am
One of the street vendors that sells fruit and waves a paper from an organization..
The headlines today - “Purveyors of Death” USDA FDA… etc. I wish I had been stopped a the light..
Comment by Ann H — July 17, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Thanks Maureen for the info on subscriptions for C-Span. I’ll sign-up.
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:53 am
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:42 am
“WE HAVE BEEN DUPED WITH THE “DETENTION” WITHOUT PHYSICAL INSPECTION IMPORT ALERT”
For those of us who can’t listen, what do you mean by this?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:54 am
Mr. Barton of Texas ! ?? ! NO QUESTIONS ?? No research on YOUR part to even know what to ask?
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:57 am
If anyone is missing this hearing, I hope you can view/hear it either on the Committee’s website or this evening on CSPAN if it is replayed. The senior investigator for the majority on the House Committee (i.e. Dems), David Nelson, is sensational. Among other revelations, he tells how Washington tells inspectors what they can inspect — even if local inspectors have specific information about shipments they have cause to inspect. They cannot do so unless Washington lets them. This is incredible testimony.
Rep. Michael Burgess, R-TX, just asked Mr. Nelson if “their side” (i.e. Republican members’ staff investigators) were involved in his investigation and wondered why they weren’t testifying. Nelson simply stated that they were involved to the extent they wanted to be, were invited to testify…and left it there. They were not present today.
Burgess is now on pet food — great questions based on his being told how much worse the incidents of kidney failure was in pets in his district than what was told…ongoing…This is great.
Comment by Maureen — July 17, 2007 @ 8:11 am
Import to Las Vegas? No port in LV! Must be shipping by plane now??
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 8:33 am
Maybe Congress should get tough on the FDA and PFI.
Example:
Former White House Counsel Harriet Miers defied a Congressional subpoena last week and Congress is considering charging her with contempt of Congress. As we find out on Monday’s “Countdown,” if the DoJ does not uphold a contempt charge it is believed they will circumvent Alberto Gonzales and charge Miers with Inherent Contempt. According to Jonathan Turley, if charged with Inherent Contempt, Miers would be arrested by the Sergeant-At-Arms, frog marched directly to Congress and tried on the spot.
Maybe if some FDA and PFI “Officials” were frog marched directly to Congress and tried on the spot we might get some straight answers for once?
Comment by Steve — July 17, 2007 @ 9:17 am
http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/a.....E6BO0.html
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 17, 2007 @ 9:25 am
Where does the FDA stand on inspecting food, given a scale of 1-10 with one being the lowest? 1 !!!
Comment by Barb — July 17, 2007 @ 10:22 am
that was pretty telling.
Comment by straybaby — July 17, 2007 @ 10:25 am
Caroline Smith DeWaal from the Center for Science in the Public Interest/CSPI just said that one of the elements to install safety in food exports to the U.S. is a food certification program. That is one of the elements in Senator Durbin’s bill. Suggest reading the entire article about his bill, not just the excerpt about charging a fee to exporters for testing.
IMO, the first two panels in this hearing are being extremely frank in laying out the problems with today’s FDA and our food supply. The next panel, with Commissioner Eschenbach, may be entirely different (snark). But at least the horrendous mess that has been made of the FDA is out in the open, thanks to this hearing — now it depends on what will be done by those who have the power to change the laws governing the FDA’s regs.
Comment by Maureen — July 17, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Hubbard is bothering me with his anti-cool views.
Comment by spocko — July 17, 2007 @ 10:44 am
HE’s definately on the HOT SEAT now!
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 10:48 am
$9 million went to bonuses!!! Aye chi mama!
I missed the first two hours or so of this broadcast so if anyone learns that it will re-air on cspan, please post times here.
Comment by Barb — July 17, 2007 @ 10:52 am
As they say: The Heat is On!
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 11:09 am
Hmmmm! Von Eschie only wants to talk about lettuce, not to mention the GOLD STANDARD that FDA adheres to!
Comment by Elaine — July 17, 2007 @ 11:13 am
heck, sounds like they can’t even respond to letters from Congress! PATHETIC!
this guy is SO full of crap.
Comment by straybaby — July 17, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Whoo-hoo, Stupak! You go, dude! Crank it UP!
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 11:31 am
The FDA didn’t respond to Durbin’s letter either. What else is new?
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 11:32 am
I’d like to whack this guy up-side the head with my handbag! Sheesh!!
Comment by Elaine — July 17, 2007 @ 11:37 am
I can’t believe Emily’s finger’s haven’t fallen off. What a liveblog!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 17, 2007 @ 11:44 am
WOW! They’ve been on over 5 hrs now. Incredible. Maybe she can sell it back to them to post.
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 11:57 am
Stupak ain’t letting go!
Major PROPS to Emily! OY!
Comment by straybaby — July 17, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
I can only hope that he wakes up tonight in a cold sweat & resigns from the pressure tomorrow morning. He is a COMPLETE FAILURE! Give it up Eisch…
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
HOW can you phase in something over 3 years that has a shutdown coming in 6 ? weeks??
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Next stop, a nice COLD bucket of ice water to sit in!
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
This FDA fellow who spoke at the end is not going to help us, just Bush.
The surgeon-general appointee is cut from the same cloth.
Nobody will help us—all for big business.
Save money from the little people to burn the dollars in Iraq or stick in the big fat pockets of “Who is qualified in Bush’s eyes—big business and big Republican officials”
Ye gads, how much more damage can be done to us?
Comment by Evelyn — July 17, 2007 @ 12:17 pm
Actually, a great deal, Evelyn. It’s a known fact, our food is at great risk, with minimal quality assurance & safety monitoring.
I consider everything that’s happened the past 4 months a direct attack!
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
I hope a full transcript of this remarkable hearing will be available. I’d like to read again how the Committee’s senior investigator, David Nelson from the 1st panel,characterized the FDA’s reorganization plan as consolidating “power,” and what else members of that panel said about the plan and what it would do to what’s left of the FDA. Contrasting this with what Von Eschenbach is saying will be shameful (for von E.).
Comment by Maureen — July 17, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
We’ll link up the transcript when we see it. I’ve been listening on and off while working. I hope it’s not all just bluster and posturing.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 17, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
I guess if there are a lot of people getting sick and dying and it can be traced back to the lack of food safety, we have or will have another “Brownie” boy to help us (die). Reminds me of the Katrina catastrophe—appoint someone who will not necessary save us from disaster.
At first I could not understand why the bloggers did not like Von Eschenbach and the FDA as it is being managed now.
After the hearing today, I fully understand.
I imagined not living under this “King” the other day, and my body loosened and relaxed. Then I opened my eyes to the reality of the here and now. Got tensed up again.
May I live long enough to enjoy my “Kingless” days left!
We bloggers have to be careful what we eat, the government could care less about food safety for us and our pets.
Go, Cindy Sheehan, Go! She has almost a million signatures for her cause and she still keeps marching on.
Comment by Evelyn — July 17, 2007 @ 12:40 pm
Kat:
I agree we are under attack. Wish I had the right tools to fight back. So many have tried and not won—yet.
Comment by Evelyn — July 17, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
i love how these fda morons keep saying our food safety system is the “gold standard” for the world, as if 75,000,000 food-borne illnesses and 5000 deaths a year is a good record, to say nothing of the thousands upon thousands of dead and chronically sick pets! do they think just saying “we’re the best!” makes it so? i want to see the stats that prove that statement. i’ll bet you any money that they don’t exist.
Comment by explodinghed — July 17, 2007 @ 1:02 pm
Evelyn, even when we TRY to take care of ourselves, ie: “buyer beware” - as several individuals have by testing the pet foods on their own that made their pets sick — they have been attacked by the FDA by stating the general public doesn’t have the “intelligence” to figure out a bad lab from a good one.
If they would take care of the problem we’ve been experiencing — for FOUR MONTHS now — and that is the continuous onslaught of contaminated food & food products into our country, we wouldn’t be as this far into this problem.
Just look at the toothpaste — they waited about 3 weeks just for a recall on it. Then, it was for only PART of the contaminated toothpaste.
It is a continuous, bombardment of items that are tainted with the FDA failing on all accounts.
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
And, the question STILL prevails — WHAT DID THEY DO WITH THE CONTAMINATED PET FOOD??? Is it a steady stream into the chicken feed? The fish food? The hog feed? WHERE DID IT GO!??!
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:57 am
— What is important (to the political people) is being seen there, not participating in a meaningful way. Just sit there uselessly looking thoughful (or tired) and don’t make waves…
Remember, it’s the best system money can buy…
Comment by steve a — July 17, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
Supposedly they all pulled an “all nighter” on the topic of Iraq, last night. That is a very important topic. But, FOOD SAFETY issues should have had ALL of the committee members out there taking swipes at the FDA. They so deserved it.
I am sick to death of the House, the Senate, the FDA & our government, just in general. They can get NOTHING done. All they do is sit there TALKING — writing bills for their own self-importance — collecting their big fat paychecks, waiting until their retirements for an even GREATER payout.
They are a sham!
Actually, Steve A - there was a low attendance. So, not many were “seen” at this event. But, a few of the attendees did get some grrrr8 jabs in. And, MAYBE something will be done — but doubtful.
Like Stupak said at the end, he doubt’s they’ll even get the paperwork they requested before the FDA goes ahead with the revisions/lab slicing.
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
The Senate is on my site right now:
Search results for: 156.33.76.41
OrgName: U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Kat, didn’t he say something to the effect of the FDA not closing labs until they had everything in order for review?
Comment by straybaby — July 17, 2007 @ 2:54 pm
The FDA hearing will be re-broadcast tonight/Tues. at 12:55 a.m. EDT (9:55 p.m. PDT) on CSPAN. That’s the regular CSPAN channel not CSPAN2 or 3. It lasts 5-6 hours, so hope you can tape or Tivo it if it’s on too late.
IMO, the 1st panel was the best, the 2nd also good, Eschenbach was on the 3rd, so don’t watch if you have high blood pressure. Note that there’s a break and they jump to a Hillary Clinton campaign event for a while, they go back to the subcommittee when it resumes.
This is a don’t miss…Lots of facts about FDA out there; some witnesses putting their careers on the line if a Dem isn’t elected Prez in ‘08 because of their frankness, I believe. Now what the House and Senate do about this is another story, and requires follow-up.
Comment by Maureen — July 17, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Here is the C-Span link to the two parts (morning & afternoon) of the Hearing. I cannot get a direct link. They use a JavaScript link.
http://www.cspan.org/videoarch.....odePairs=,
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 3:55 pm
Straybaby: Listen to the 2nd video. The video is 2:16:32 in length. Move the slide to 2:09:25. This is the start of the last conversation with Stupak/von Eschenbach.
Eschenbach does not say “yes” he will wait. Stupak says he bets the FDA reorganization will be complete before he gets the paperwork.
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
I had to email it to myself to get the URL:
Morning Session: http://tinyurl.com/yqnwcs
Afternoon Session: http://tinyurl.com/2bpd52
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
Bureau of Food & Drugs in the Philippines finds FORMALIN in China candies!
http://www.philstar.com/index......0070717153
Reminds me of the first contaminated toothpaste news. Wonder how long it’ll be before we know if it’s here?
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 6:48 pm
Americans need to realize that it is the Republicans’ goal to block all new legislation favored by the citizens of this country and intended, for example, to support our military, keep our food safe, etc. Republicans led by Bush and Cheney represent probably about the most anti-American obstructionist crowd this country has ever seen:
‘… Last week on the Young Turks [an AirAmerica radio program], Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) said a Republican colleague of his told him that a strategy has been adopted by the minority to “prevent any accomplishment” by the new Congress:
“I think that we could do a better job making our points, and one part of that is to let the American people see just how obstructionist this Republican minority is being. The leader has had to file cloture now over 40 times already this year. And cloture, as you know, is a special procedure to stop debate, to stop filibusters, in order to reach conclusion on legislation. I had a Republican colleague tell me it is the Republican strategy to try to prevent any accomplishment of the Democratic Congress. That is set in their caucus openly and directly that they don’t intend to allow Democrats to have any legislative successes, and they intend to do it by repeated filibuster.” ‘
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/.....ilibuster/
It’s up to us to flood the phone lines, faxes, and e-mails of our House and Senate representatives, ESPECIALLY Republicans and weak/conservative Dems … before this country is lost forever. Conservative John Dean said it quite some time ago that this crowd is well down the road of fascism and that the Bush administration is proto-fascist. Help save America!
Comment by Sandy — July 17, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
And as an extension of my last post, it’s important to remember the Repubs’ rallying cry in the prior Congressional sessions of “up or down vote, up or down vote,” and the extreme steps they took to prevent the Dems from filibustering. Uber-hypocrites
Comment by Sandy — July 17, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
They all act like big, fat, squalling babies! No wonder I HATE POLITICS!
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
I forget which thread I posted a big thumbs down re: the U.S. media but this one *has* to take the cake:
Fox [Network] has refused to air a national Trojan condom commercial because it [Fox] objects “to the message that condoms can prevent pregnancy.”
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/.....pregnancy/ (original story posted at NYTimes.com but requires login)
hmmm, maybe I should have posted this in one of the spay/neuter threads ;-]
Comment by Sandy — July 17, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
Cute, Sandy!
Here’s MORE CHINA CRAP RECALLED!
http://www.myfoxboston.com/myf.....geId=3.6.1
Comment by Kat — July 17, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
This morning this blurb was in one of the other blog emails I receive…
No matter where I look these days the neo-con interests keep trucking along as if the clock is no longer ticking.
I wonder, could they be right?
Read the article below…
Lawmakers Decry FDA Plans to Close Labs
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/071807P.shtml
Andrew Bridges reports for the Associated Press, “Lawmakers criticized the Food and Drug Administration’s plan to close half of its laboratories. They called that idea misguided and questioned whether it would save money and enhance the agency’s ability to target unsafe food, as FDA commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach said it would.”
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — July 18, 2007 @ 8:42 am
Bernie’s back!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 18, 2007 @ 8:48 am
Bernie, glad to see ya!
Comment by E. Hamilton — July 18, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Good AP article about yesterday’s hearing on the FDA and food safety. Here’s another one from the L.A. Times.
http://www.latimes.com/news/na.....9299.story
I don’t know if a transcript is available yet, but I especially remember the Committee’s lead investigator, Mr. Nelson, saying that the main purpose of the “reorganization” of the FDA’s testing facilities is to consolidate power.
It was shocking to learn yesterday that the inspection and testing sites don’t have the discretion to test imports that don’t already appear on a list issued from Washington.
What is shocking is to see in action how the Bush presidency’s total grab for power has infiltrated down as far as to whether rotten fish or toxic wheat gluten get inspected in Long Beach, for example.
I read that one of the new Commissioner Von Eschenbach’s early acts was to attempt to stop the funding for a small women’s health initiative that was involved in Plan B.
Also, at yesterday’s hearing, it was interesting to watch former Commissioner Hubbard squirm when his actions as FDA head under the Bush administration were 180 degrees from where he now stands on issues. What ever happened to principaled stands and resigning your job when your marching orders conflict with your conscience? Didn’t he almost say — or actually say — when confronted with his previous actions, “…that’s when I was speaking out for the administration…”?
Comment by Maureen — July 18, 2007 @ 9:25 am
Principles are kinda thin on the ground lately, though they were mighty popular with my parents when explaining to me that they would far rather I died of starvation than have me work at a shameful job.
I took the lesson to heart and have quit a job or two when I made the discovery that I was taking money from a person who committed actions that were not up to my standards.
And then, in one case, I informed the authorities of the unlawful actions and testified against the person. Oddly enough, it involved acts of animal abuse.
There is a phrase I often hear in my head when such situations arise and it guides me.
I could not love thee half so much, loved I not honor more.
Silly of me, I know, to want my love and my life and my actions to mean something because they come from a person of honor. Honor, duty, doing the right things matter to me and I wish they mattered to more public officials. I am a VERY foolish old woman to want such things but I do.
Comment by E. Hamilton — July 18, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Glad to see Bernie’s back. Interesting comment in his link about lab results. … spooky …
E: Maybe von Eschenbach will resign in disgrace… or FEAR ?? maybe ?? we can all hope!
Comment by Kat — July 18, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Someone remarked about the info from the hearing yesterday in which it was said that some exporters trying to avoid FDA testing go to a “port” where there isn’t an FDA testing facility. The example given was avoiding San Francisco and going to the “port of Las Vegas.” I learned that LV has quite an import facility for receiving imports via air. In fact they have plans to build a separate airport just for receiving cargo, including imports.
This is quite a master plan that the FDA is drumming up. If Van Eschenbach won’t give the Congress any response to their official requests for info, what chance is there that he’ll give them a look-see at the master reorganization plan before it’s well under way. By then, all the technical expertise of the FDA will be dissipated and regulation will be fully in the hands of corporations.
Comment by Maureen — July 18, 2007 @ 11:13 am
sorry for the re-post here—i put this in the wrong thread by mistake
wow, my local fox affiliate has covered the following three stories right in a row: tainted pet food contaminated with ingredients from china that killed ‘dozens to hundreds of pets,’ a new recall of castlebury (human) food resulting in botulism poisoning, and vick’s dog fighting ‘allegations.’
Comment by jaimie s — July 18, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Glad to hear that people actually remember me!
I’ve been busy working at my hobby farm and enjoying my new pal Scout - An English setter I found at the local Humane Society. He is a wonderful little guy with love in his heart and boundless energy.
Of course the farm is where Brandy is burried and every day I am there I stop by her grave and fill her water dish and tell her how sorry I am for being hasty in having her put to sleep (before I knew why she was sick) and how Scout was not meant to replace her.
The flowers on her grave look nice but it doesnt make up for her loss.
While I may not post, I do always try to read the blogs here at least every day or two.
I promise to chime in when I have something of value to contribute.
Bernie
Comment by Bernard J. (Bernie) Starzewski — July 18, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
Bernie:
1) Of COURSE we remember you. You have always added so much to our understanding of these issues.
and
2) Scout! I love the name. Just like “To Kill a Mockingbird.” I’m glad you found room in your heart.
Post anytime, darlin’
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 18, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
How could we forget you. Bernie? You had the most amazing insights right from the beginning. It was hard to absorb everything you were saying (because it was so astonishing), but I’m so very glad you kept saying it!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — July 18, 2007 @ 9:17 pm