Date: 2014-02-26
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

I want to thank my good friend. Congressman JOHNSON. for his leadership and the management of this legislation. I would just like us to take a journey down memory lane: I am sure that many of us will be reminded of the famous Pinto and the crafting of that automobile. I have no commentary on the great industry that so many of us admire. but for those of us who have memories. we realize some of the injuries that occurred in the structure of the Pinto. Or maybe it is cars without seatbelts or airbags. Or maybe we recall times when we travel throughout our community and we notice not only a heavy fog but polluted air. Maybe some of us have been exposed to polluted water. Or maybe you traveled internationally. even in the 21st century. seeing the conditions that many who live outside of the United States live in. with the utilization of dirty water because they have no other water or the food danger because it is not regulated. Well. my friends. unfortunately. the legislation that is here on the floor of the House seems to take us backwards down a poisonous memory lane. So it is very difficult to support this legislation. I said today in a committee hearing that I know that Members come here with good intentions. So I will not attribute to anyone that this bill does not come to the floor with good intentions. but it is a bill that has not been. as a whole. considered by the Judiciary Committee. This is now being brought to the floor with three separate bills combined. now called the ALERRT Act. But it really imposes unneeded and costly analytical and procedural requirements on agencies that would prevent them from performing their statutory responsibilities to protect the public health and safety. This. I believe. is an important responsibility. It creates unnecessary regulatory and legal uncertainty and increases costs for businesses and State. local. and tribal governments and impedes plain common sense. I will offer an amendment dealing with homeland security. We just had a hearing today that emphasized the importance of the work of the Homeland Security Department. With our new Secretary of Homeland Security. Secretary Johnson. we are very much on the right track. recognizing franchise terrorism and the need for securing the border. Much of the work done by Homeland Security is a regulatory structure. Why would we want to impede securing America? Well. my friends. that is what is going to occur with this legislation. the All Economic Regulations Are Transparent Act. I also offered an amendment dealing with baby formula. For those of us mothers who have raised children and tend to their needs as newborns and use infant formula. it is well known that there is a great need to regulate companies that manufacture infant formulas in an effort to protect babies from foodborne illnesses and promote healthy growth. On Thursday. the FDA announced plans to revise. earlier this month. infant formula regulations with an interim final rule that will be published soon. But guess what. The legislation that we have will stand in the way as an iron wall. if you will. prohibiting any rule from being finalized until certain information is posted for 6 months. How long will 6 months be in the life of an infant?