DeLauro Continues Fight for American Values at Appropriations Committee

Offers Amendments on Breastfeeding, FinancialOversight, China-Smithfield Sale

WASHINGTON, DC—Today at the House Appropriations Committeemarkup of the Fiscal Year 2014 bill funding the US Department of Agriculture,Food and Drug Administration, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission(CFTC), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) continued to push for more fundingand better policies on the issues important to millions of Americans.Unfortunately, the House Majority continued to block her efforts at every turn.

DeLauro's first proposal was an amendment that wouldeliminate a provision in the bill preventing American consumers from knowingthe origin of the meat and poultry they buy in the grocery store by delayingthe implementation of country of origin labeling rules.

"At a time when foreign companies are looking to purchasemajor US producers, our constituents should at least know where their food iscoming from. Look no further than the recent announcement Shauanghui is tryingto purchase Smithfield Foods. American food imports from China--and othercountries--are growing, even as we struggle to ensure an adequate number offood inspections. American consumers need to be able to make informed choicesin the marketplace."

DeLauro later offered an amendment to restore $60 million infunding to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants andChildren (WIC). The money would support the critical work of breastfeeding peercounselors.

"WIC is a short-term intervention that can help provide alifetime of good nutrition and health behaviors. Particularly in thisenvironment, cutting funding for breastfeeding peer counseling isshort-sighted, and will only result in higher health care costs. For a smallcost, WIC pays enormous dividends in the health and well-being of our mothersand children."

Lastly, DeLauro proposed an amendment to restore funding forthe CFTC to the President's request of $315 million.

"Americans want to see more accountability from Wall Street,not less. To make that happen we need enough cops on the beat at the CFTC, butright now the Commission is dangerously underfunded. Congress is effectivelylicensing more excessive risk-taking and bad behavior by banks and speculators.By not accepting my amendment, we have put in place a recipe for more recklessbanking, more market failures, more bailouts and higher gas prices."