The news release that follows came in late today from Congressman Adam Putnam’s office in WASHINGTON D C – Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) today attended a meeting of President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group at the White House. This was the group’s first meeting, a “listening session” to hear a broad range of ideas for how to secure the safety of America’s food supply.
“This working group is taking an important step in furthering the understanding of how to best secure America’s food supply, and I am honored to join this bi-partisan effort to find solutions,” said Putnam. Putnam is the coauthor with U.S. Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) of legislation (HR 1332, the Safe FEAST Act) to reform and modernize the Food and Drug Administration’s role in food safety.
“I believe that the legislation I have introduced will help provide a blueprint for comprehensive reform to accomplish the mutual goals of consumers and industry — to protect our families from food-borne illnesses.”
The Working Group is developing a set of principles and guidelines for improving the nation’s food safety. The White House listening session was intended as an opportunity to engage stakeholders in a conversation to help shape these principles. Today’s listening session included remarks from Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. It was followed by break-out meetings with the participants to discuss how to address major challenges and opportunities.
Since 2001, Putnam has represented Florida’s 12th Congressional District, which includes most of Polk County and portions of Hillsborough and Osceola counties.
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