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S 510 Food Safety Modernization Act Cloture Vote Wednesday.






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food safety bill

Congress in brief placed the country 1st Tues and passed the food safety bill. A violation of a constitutional clause in a Senate amendment had threatened its junction. I found this here: Congress manages to pass food safety bill despite itself But the obstacles were overcome and the bill exceeded giving the FDA the tools its needs to be more effective in stopping tainted food from reaching consumers.

This bill will do neither the horrible things this OP claims,

nor the allegedly wonderful things you appear to be claiming.

Unless of course you are being sarcastic.

According to Mike Adams of Natural News:

"When you read S.510 (the Food Safety Modernization Act), it's astonishing to find what's actually written there.
The naysayers complain that there's nothing in the bill about Codex Alimentarius. They are lying. It's on page 195 in the bill and written in plain English (see below).
There's also a section where it says the FDA will run the food safety operations of foreign nations, and that this global food "plan" will involve the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Treasury.
Seriously. I couldn't make this stuff up.
Think I'm kidding? Check it out for yourself in my feature article today, which includes a link to the U.S. government certified document that contains all this text in plain English that you can see for yourself:"

I've read the bill. That stuff isn't in there.

We've had threads on this in detail.( this being one of them in the comments below)

The bill does not extend regulations to new people. It is as limited as the present law is.

In a nutshell, right now, everything this bill mandates could happen via regulation, even if the bill didn't exist.

This bill simply mandates that those regulations be written.

Additionally, Congress has provided guidance and limitations on the HHS Secretary on how he writes those regulations.

It is a bad bill, yes, but not for the Chicken Little reasons Mr. Adams is advancing.

This bill is a set of amendments to an already existing law.

Not one part of this bill amends WHO the law applies to. Thus if you already are not regulated under the FD&C act, you won't be now under S.510.

Mr. Adams conveniently (or ignorantly) does not explain S.510 in the context of the law it is amending.

Contact your Senators Today to vote NO!

I just got this letter from Campaign for Liberty and it is easy to copy and paste some of it and go to the link where you can contact your senators.

Please do this.

November 27, 2010

Dear Friend of Liberty,

Just days after Thanksgiving, Senate statists will hold a series of critical votes on the War on Food bill this Monday, November 29.

Click here to get contact information for calling, faxing, and emailing your senators. Tell them to oppose S.510, the misnamed "Food Safety Modernization Act," on every vote - including cloture.

S. 510 will open the floodgates for tyrannical federal bureaucrats to crush the food industry’s small businesses.

The bill’s proponents suggest that a few provisions totally address concerns of small-scale farmers, but closer examination reveals the FDA acquires even more power to shut down family farms on a whim.

And you can be sure that the government's Big Agriculture allies will have no problem adjusting to the new corporatist rules.

Unless the freedom movement immediately takes a stand, the establishment will be able to chalk up one more win for the Big Government status quo.

In these tough economic times, S. 510 will drive up the costs of food production by adding more layers of government interference.

The bill also empowers federal agencies to impose international guidelines and standards on domestic food producers - molding American food production into an unhealthy globalist Codex system.

It should be noted that Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Chris Dodd (D-CT), and Richard Burr (R-NC) coordinated to reach a "bipartisan" agreement earlier in the year to forge ahead with the otherwise stalled bill.


Don't let the statists empower their Big Agriculture allies and destroy reputable food producers like the independent family farm, where the free market works every day to provide the public with healthy choices.

Click here to get contact information for calling, faxing, and emailing your senators! Make sure they’re greeted with a loud and clear message from you when they return to Capitol Hill on Monday.

In Liberty,

John Tate


Dr. Coburn's amendment; The Ensuring Greater Food Safety Act

Dr. Coburn, who has been fighting this bill from the beginning filed an amendment that from my understanding basically strikes down the current bill and replaces it with legislation that empowers the free market rather than the heavy hand of government to keep food safe, it's called: The Ensuring Greater Food Safety Act of 2010

from his website:

The Ensuring Greater Food Safety Act of 2010 would modernize Federal food safety efforts without placing unnecessary burdens on food producers, increasing food prices, or saddling taxpayers with additional debt.

go to his website to read the amendment:

so has anyone seen this? thoughts?

healthfreedomusa.org had this to say:
11.19.10 Sen. Coburn offering a substitute bill that doesn’t hurt local, natural production and distribution quite as much as the draconian globalist bill now pending. While Sen Coburn’s substitute amendment makes some changes (such as removing the language allowing secret guidelines) it still sets the stage for a nearly complete Federal takeover. Take a look at it: Click Here. http://coburn.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&Fil...
We do NOT support any bill to increase Federal power over food. However, if the Federal establishment insists on wasting more taxpayer funds, Dr. Coburn is to be thanked for trying to keep the burden less. We support his effort, but do not support the “leadership” bill, or any fake “food safety” bill.


SteveMT's picture

A caller to AJ today said he read about this bill on the DP!

Exposure is exposure.

We are helping people learn the truth.

Great reporting, legalize.

Bump for the



Mark Lavene on the radio the other day,

said the "international laws" purport to trump all United States Laws, that the UN directives usurp ALL.
"We lease your lands, we lease them all up!"
What is in the existing law appearantly is overridden by UN shenanigans.
Brought to you by oligarchy and politicians who go to pathogenic parasitical beaurucrats when the want money to achieve their goals.


Action Alert!

issued by Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund


Reject S.510 - Protect America's Small Farms & Food Producers
2,814 Submissions so far
111th U.S. Congress - Senate Bill S.510 [Click here for Talking Points]http://www.ftcldf.org/petitions/pnum1061.php

Update 11/18/10: The S.510 vote on November 17 was simply to allow cloture which passed 75-25; the vote on November 18 has moved S.510 to the Senate floor for a vote. Call Senators to VOTE "NO" on S.510

More than ever S.510 represents a major threat to the local food movement, states' autonomy to regulate food, and the country's ability to become self-sufficient in food production.

Passage of the revised version into law will enable FDA potentially to regulate all farms marketing food products direct to consumers even if the farms engage only in intrastate commerce. [NOTE: The Amendment offered by Jon Tester was adopted 11/18/2010 to mitigate the most immediate impact on small farms and counter the trend of consolidation of the food supply; bottomline, however, there are unamended provisions in S.510 that are nonetheless distressing.] The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010 (S.510) needs to be stopped!

How bad can a federal food safety bill be? Let me count the ways! Better yet, let Senator Coburn give you a short video tutorial on the underlying problems with S.510.

FDA's failure to exercise its current powers hardly justifies rewarding the agency with expanded authority in the aftermath of the egg recall and peanut butter fiasco. Moreover, FDA has proven itself untrustworthy to operate in the best interest of the American public as clearly seen in allowing the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animals and its lax policy regarding genetically modified foods.

Congress hasn't gotten the message that they need to solve the real problems--the centralized food distribution system and imported foods--and not regulate our local food sources out of business.

link to site: http://www.ftcldf.org/petitions/pnum1061.php

thanks for the alert the

thanks for the alert

the tester ammendment hasn't passed by vote yet, it's merely been allowed to be included (still might be up for a separate vote) because "negotiators" reeched an "agreement" which is

•New language that gives U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s authority to withdraw an exemption from a farm or facility that has been associated with a food-borne illness outbreak.



so just because it's included doesn't mean it's finalized, that is a good point, it could be used to trick those that would otherwise be opposed to let this bill slide through.
So where can we go to verify or get updates on the amendment status?
how did you find this information?

He sure makes it sound like

his amendment is a done deal and part of the bill.
If you have something I can site, I am a member of both Farm to Consumer Defense and PASA and will alert them to this (The Tester Amendment not finalized and included with the bill) if I can have a direct reference, I couldn't find that on Tester's site.

PASA had this to say:

To: All PASA Members

Re: S.510

This is just a quick update to everyone, letting you know that the calls generated by you and other sustainable ag supporters across the country had a very significant effect on the process in Washington DC today. In fact, the so-called Tester Amendment is no longer in doubt, and has now been included in the Manager's Amendment, which could be voted on later today or tomorrow. This means that while S.510 may or may not pass, if it does pass, the Tester language is there, mostly exempting direct sales (within 275 miles!) to consumers, restaurants or grocery stores from the new regulatory provisions.

I wouldn't venture to say that the situation in moving ahead is at all perfect, and there are many unanswered questions that remain (i.e. assuming the bill passes the Senate and then the House yet this year). But you can be proud that some very strong language would be in the law to protect direct sales from small farms (< $500K in annual sales), and also that PASA helped to actually write some of that language when we began this process 18 months ago.

As you can see PASA is making it sound like a victory already. Again point out a reference and I will notify them

I found the sentence that "it

I found the sentence that "it will either be voted on as part of the bill or voted up or down on its own" from a news story which I couldn't find again.

but they have not voted on any ammendments. they have only debated

the final tester ammendment is a compromise that reduces the range from 400 to 275 miles and giving the Secretary the unbridled ability to deem a farm "hazardous" at the Secretary's own discretion

Rather than passing this bill

they should have eliminated the FDA and started over. The FDA has totally not been protecting our food for the last 25 years. They have explicitly not performed their intended purpose. Why aren't we firing them instead of empowering them?

what the heck?? check this

what the heck?? check this out

• In the event of an active investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak that is directly linked to a facility or farm exempted under this section, or if the Secretary determines that it is necessary to protect the public health and prevent or mitigate a foodborne illness outbreak based on conduct or conditions associated with a facility or farm that are material to the safety of food, the Secretary may withdraw the exemption provided to such facility under this section. No activities under this limitation expand existing FDA authorities to inspect farms.

- from the summary of the tester ammendment

The amendment provides an exemption

from the present law.

It has nothing to do with anything that is not already covered by it.

Here's how it works:

You have say three types of covered facilities under present law: A, B, C.

The amendment provides an exemption to group A.

This provision you cite allows for that exemption to be withdrawn based on certain circumstances.

Under present law, A, B, C were under the law.

Under S.510 as amended by Tester, A could be exempt except under certain conditions.

This does not ADD a group D which was heretofore not under the law.

exactly.basically, small


basically, small farms are exempt - unless the Secretary decides they aren't

this ammendment was a sham from the beginning and ultimately does 0 to keep the government from infringing on small farms

I think you missed samadamscw

I think you missed samadamscw point, but I would agree that this amendment could fall by the wayside when noone is watching and then the FDA will have more power then before

Good find!

No one should wonder that this is happening if they are aware of the assault on the family businesses lately.

The Testor amendment did pass

with some compromise and is on this bill that just passed. I received two emails about it.

it has not passed

it has not passed, it's just ready to be voted upon




The Yea's and Nays of the S510

What a Surprise! Scott Brown voted Yea lol How is that Tea Party dude working for you?


YEAs ---74

Akaka (D-HI)
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Brown (R-MA)
Burr (R-NC)
Burris (D-IL)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coons (D-DE)
Corker (R-TN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Enzi (R-WY)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
LeMieux (R-FL)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
Manchin (D-WV)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (D-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---25

Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Graham (R-SC)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Nelson (D-NE)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Wicker (R-MS)
Not Voting - 1
Murkowski (R-AK)

74 More

That have to go !!!!!

Mark Twain

Thanks Gigi


LL on Twitter: http://twitter.com/LibertyPoet
sometimes LL can suck & sometimes LL rocks!

Assuming this is on the Cloture vote---

Thanks, Gigi!

yes, On the Cloture Motion

see link provided by "GigiBowman" in his post above.
I noticed that both Tester and Hagan voted Yea on the Cloture Motion. Maybe they are counting on their amendment passing? But why would they want to pass the cloture motion which limits debate on this? What is going on here? Who's side are they on?

Good video cocerning S 510 here:


At this point it looks like S 510 has the support of a majority of the Senate so we need to at least get them to pass the Tester-Hagan amendment as a form of damage control. It seems to me this should be our focus at this point in time. Read the update on S 510 here: