Congressman Brett Guthrie, Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Morgan Griffith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, announced on April 22 a hearing titled "Healthier America: Legislative Proposals on the Regulation and Oversight of Food." The hearing is scheduled for April 29 at 2:00 PM ET in the Rayburn House Office Building.
The upcoming hearing will address legislative efforts aimed at improving food safety review processes and labeling practices in the United States. Lawmakers plan to discuss several bills that focus on protecting American food producers while enhancing oversight by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a joint statement, Guthrie and Griffith said, “Chronic diseases have become the number one driver of health care spending in the United States. As Members of Congress, we have an obligation to our constituents to empower them to take their health and well-being into their own hands, and the food Americans consume is a fundamental piece of this puzzle.” They added that next week's discussion would center around legislation designed to improve product review and labeling standards.
Among more than twenty bills set for discussion are proposals such as the Grocery Reform and Safety Act; Food Chemical Reassessment Act; Baby Food Safety Act; Dietary Supplement Listing Act; Honey Integrity Act; Safer Shrimp Imports Act; DAIRY PRIDE Act; Third-Party Certification Modernization Act; No False Formula Act; Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act; Federal and State Food Safety Information Sharing Act, among others. The committee also highlighted FDA’s key role in addressing chronic disease through improved regulatory measures.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee plays a central role in shaping policy related to energy, health care, environmental protection, telecommunications, and consumer issues according to its official website. Over time it has influenced national policies including energy innovation initiatives, broadband deployment strategies, as well as pharmaceutical pricing reforms according to its official website.
As one of Congress’s oldest standing committees according to its official website, it traces its roots back to 1795 when it was established as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures according to its official website.
The public can attend or watch a livestream of this hearing online. Questions about participation or press inquiries can be directed via email as provided by committee staff.
