September 21, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1619 

paycheck—not a government check—is the 

best escape from the clutches of poverty and 

the best hope of building a better life. 

Unfortunately, the Obama Administration 

has announced its intention to allow states to 

opt out of these requirements. I believe Congress must emphatically reject this plan. We 

must refuse to go down a path that leads us 

back to a sad and painful time in our history 

where millions of American families were 

trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependency. 

This is the stark choice we have before us 

today. 

The Administration’s plan is egregious on 

process as well as substance. By blatantly 

going beyond their statutory authority, the Administration’s action fits into a growing and 

disturbing pattern of this President disregarding the law and acting unilaterally to 

override laws duly enacted by Congress. We 

cannot stand by and allow the executive 

branch to trample on the Constitutional authority of this body, which has the sole power to 

legislate. 

Given these concerns, I urge my colleagues 

to support this resolution of disapproval and 

reject the Administration’s misguided attempt 

to undermine the hope of prosperity for millions of American families eager to support 

themselves economically. Mr. Speaker, let us 

reaffirm the principle that, far more effectively 

than any government program, work places 

the American people on the path to self-sufficiency and prosperity. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. ANNA G. ESHOO OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I inadvertently 

vote ‘‘no’’ on rollcall vote No. 114 (to prohibit 

the use of funds for the salaries and expenses 

of personnel of the Department of Agriculture 

to provide benefits described in section 

1001D(b)(1)(C) of the Food Security Act of 

1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308–3a(b)(1)(C)) to a person 

or legal entity in excess of $250,000) when I 

meant to vote ‘‘yes.’’ 

I would like to correct for the record that I 

wanted to vote ‘‘yes’’ on rollcall vote 114. 

f 

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 

R.I.C.E. ACT 

HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 

introduce the Reducing food-based Inorganic 

and Organic Compounds Exposure Act, or the 

R.I.C.E. Act. This bill, which I am proud to introduce with my colleagues Congressman 

PALLONE of New Jersey and Congresswoman 

LOWEY of New York, seeks to require the 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set 

maximum allowable levels of arsenic in foods 

that contain rice. 

Last year, a Consumer Reports test found 

concerning levels of arsenic in some juices. 

Based on that report, I was glad to support 

Congressman PALLONE’s legislation that would 

require the FDA to set a maximum allowable 

level of arsenic and lead in fruit juices. I look 

forward to our continued work on this issue to 

protect the public health, which is why we 

have again partnered on this issue with this 

legislation. And I am glad to be working with 

Congresswoman LOWEY, a champion of children’s health. 

Recently, Consumer Reports completed another test on arsenic in our food supply, this 

time focusing on rice and rice products. That 

report found concerning levels of inorganic arsenic in some rice samples—including infant 

rice cereals and beverages. For example, an 

adult consuming a single serving of some rice 

products had the possibility of getting nearly 

one and a half times the amount of inorganic 

arsenic that they would consume from an entire day’s intake of water. The report also 

noted that individuals who consume rice have 

higher arsenic levels than those that did not 

consume rice. 

Another report published in Environmental 

Health Perspectives earlier this year identified 

high levels of inorganic arsenic in products 

containing organic brown rice syrup. The published study noted that the sampled products 

‘‘may introduce significant concentrations of 

[inorganic arsenic] to an individual’s diet.’’ 

And, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published an article in December 2011 entitled ‘‘Rice consumption contributes to arsenic exposure in US women’’ 

that highlighted the association between rice 

consumption and a biomarker of arsenic exposure in women. 

Clearly, it is imperative that the FDA act and 

set standards for acceptable levels of arsenic 

and other dangerous heavy metals in food 

products. This bill requires them to set such a 

level for arsenic in rice and foods containing 

rice. I intend to continue to work on this issue, 

and I urge my colleagues to support this bill. 

CONSUMERS UNION, 

September 20, 2012. 

Congresswoman ROSA DELAURO, 

Rayburn House Office Building, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR CONGRESSWOMAN DELAURO: Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm 

of Consumer Reports, applauds your introduction of legislation to require the U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to set 

standards to help lower the levels of arsenic 

in rice and rice products. 

As you know, yesterday Consumer Reports 

and the FDA each released important data 

showing troubling levels of arsenic in rice, 

which is a major food staple for millions of 

Americans. Inorganic arsenic—which both 

studies found in the various rice products examined—has been linked to bladder, lung and 

other cancers. The consumption of arseniccontaining rice is especially worrisome for 

infants and young children because of the 

negative impact arsenic may have on the developing brain. 

Rice is not the only food that contains 

worrisome levels of arsenic. Indeed, in a previous report released earlier this year, Consumer Reports found troubling levels of arsenic in apple and other juices. Yesterday’s 

findings underscore the health risks of arsenic, particularly inorganic arsenic, and 

how rice is a particularly important source 

of arsenic exposure for Americans. That’s because rice is a crop that is very effective in 

absorbing arsenic, in part because of the way 

it is grown in water-flooded conditions and 

also because it is often grown in areas where 

arsenical pesticides were once used. 

Consumer Reports tested over 200 samples 

of rice and rice products for arsenic, and we 

found significant levels of arsenic across all 

product categories, everything from organic 

rice to rice cereal, brown rice, white rice, 

and rice cakes. FDA tests found similar levels in its examination of more than 200 samples of rice products. FDA Commissioner 

Hamburg announced her agency would continue to collect and analyze 1,000 more samples by year’s end to make a thorough assessment and plan next steps. 

We welcome and appreciate the FDA’s efforts to prioritize its examination of arsenic 

in rice. We also believe that a federal standard limiting arsenic in rice and rice products 

is the best way to minimize consumers’ exposure to unsafe levels of arsenic. 

Thank you for your leadership on this critical safety issue. We look forward to working 

with you and other members of Congress to 

help reduce arsenic levels in food. 

Sincerely, 

ELLEN BLOOM, 

Senior Director, Federal Policy and 

Washington Office. 

AMI V. GADHIA, 

f 

Senior Policy Counsel. 

IN HONOR OF THE BOCHASANWASI 

SHREE AKSHAR PURUSHOTTAM 

MANDIR HOSTING SADGURU 

SANT PUJYA KOTHARI SWAMI 

HON. MICHAEL G. FITZPATRICK OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 

to recognize the Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar 

Purushottam Mandir in my home of Levittown, 

Pennsylvania for hosting Sadguru Sant Pujya 

Kothari Swami later this month for a spiritual 

evening event during his visit to the United 

States. 

Pujya Kothari Swami, one of the seven most 

senior sadhus of BAPS, will be visiting the 

United States to perform the Opening Ceremony of the Satsang Activity Center in neighboring New Jersey. The work done by Pujya 

Kothari Swami in his missionary work across 

the country and around the globe is deeply respected and praised by the entire 

Swaminarayan community. 

It is truly an honor for Bucks County to host 

this important spiritual figure in the 

Swaminarayan faith. 

As my constituents gather together for a 

night of spiritual enlightenment and community, I join them in welcoming Pujya Kothari 

Swami and wish him all the best during his 

time in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 

f 

THE EPITOME OF CHARITY— 

REGINA ROGERS 

HON. TED POE OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, September 21, 2012 

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in this day 

and age when most people think of things in 

terms of me and mine, there are still a few 

rare individuals who put others first. Regina 

Rogers is one of those rare individuals. At an 

early age, a very important question was 

engrained into Ms. Rogers’ memory, and that 

question has been the motivation for much of 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with REMARKS