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MR. BROWN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. PRODUCTS THAT ARE LABELED
"MADE IN CHINA" CAN BE FOUND IN OUR CARS AND OUR CLOSETS AND
OUR CUPBOARDS. SO, TOO, ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN THE FOODS WE EAT
OFTEN, THE MEDICINE WE TAKE, THE CANDY OUR CHILDREN ENJOY, THE
TOYS THEY PLAY WITH. BUT HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HEAR IN THE LAST
FEW YEARS OF ILLNESS AND DEATH FROM CONTAMINATED FOODS OR DRUGS
OR TOYS THAT ARE MADE IN CHINA? {18:03:46} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} IN TOLEDO, OHIO, PATIENTS DIED AFTER TAKING
CONTAMINATED HEPARIN TO TREAT THEIR HEART CONDITIONS. DRUG
MANUFACTURERS HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY TURN TO COUNTRIES
LIKE CHINA TO BUY INGREDIENTS TO PUT INTO PHARMACEUTICALS. U.S.
COMPANIES OFTEN MOVE PRODUCTION TO CHINA, BUY INGREDIENTS
THERE, PUT THESE DRUGS TOGETHER, SELL THEM BACK INTO THE UNITED
STATES WITH INGREDIENTS THAT MAY NOT PASS SOME OF THE
SAFETY INSPECTIONS THAT THEY SHOULD. ONE COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGED
THAT 17 -- THAT 17% OF ITS ACTIVE INGREDIENTS IN MANUFACTURING
ARE OUTSOURCED, {18:04:19} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} OFTEN TO COUNTRIES WITH WEAKER DRUG SAFETY
STANDARDS. WHEN HIGH LEAD LEVELS WERE DISCOVERED IN TOYS SEVERAL
YEARS AGO, I URGED STRONGER OVERSIGHT TO HELP KEEP OUR CHILDREN
SAFE. FOUR YEARS AGO, I ASKED DR. DR. JEFFREY WEIDENHAMMER
OF ASHTON UNIVERSITY IN NORTH CENTRAL OHIO TO TEST -- HE HAD ALREADY
BEGUN TESTING WITH HIS STUDENTS. WE ASKED HIM TO DO IT AGAIN,
TO TEST THE LEAD LEVEL IN HALLOWEEN TOYS, INCLUDING THE
CUPS AND THE BUCKETS THAT OHIO CHILDREN WOULD BE EATING
OUT OF AND DECORATIONS FAMILIES WOULD BE USING THAT CHILDREN
OFTEN PUT {18:04:55} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} INTO THEIR MOUTHS DURING THE HOLIDAYS. HE
TESTED PRODUCTS IN THE FALL OF 2008 -- 2007 FOR HALLOWEEN, IN
THE SPRING FOR EASTER TOYS OF 2008. HE IDENTIFIED 12 OF 97
PRODUCTS WERE CONTAMINATED WITH HIGH QUANTITIES, MUCH, MUCH
HIGHER THAN WHAT'S CONSIDERED SAFE BY OUR GOVERNMENT,
HIGH LEAD -- LEAD CONTENTS ON THIS LEAD-BASED POINT -- PAINT
ON OUR TOYS. AMONG THEM, CANDY BUCKETS, DRINKING CUPS, FAKE TEETH
AND OTHER {18:05:28} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} HALLOWEEN PROPS. IN EASTER, IT WAS EGGS AND
BASKETS AND OTHER THINGS. IT INCLUDED PRODUCTS BOUGHT AT LEADING
NATIONAL RETAILERS. AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS CLEAR
THAT OUR TRADING SYSTEM PATTERNED IN MANY WAYS AND WITH BUSINESSES
FOLLOWING THIS BUSINESS PLAN OF SHUTTING DOWN PRODUCTION
IN PLACES LIKE RHODE ISLAND WHERE THE PRESIDING OFFICER REPRESENTS
AND OHIO, SHUTTING DOWN PRODUCTION IN OUR COUNTRY AND
MOVING IT TO CHINA, SELLING PRODUCTS -- MANUFACTURING THERE AND
SELLING PRODUCTS HERE. THAT TRADE SYSTEM HAS FAILED BASIC CONSUMER
AND PUBLIC {18:06:02} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} SAFETY STANDARDS. THERE IS NOTHING FREE ABOUT
TRADE THAT PUTS CHILDREN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR PLAYING WITH
A TOY OR EATING CANDY OR BRUSHING THEIR TEETH. THAT'S WHY CONGRESS
PASSED THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT. THE
ACT SENT A SIMPLE MESSAGE TO THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.
IT'S CHARGED WITH PROTECTING CONSUMERS, PROTECT AMERICAN
CHILDREN, PROTECT FAMILIES, PROTECT COMPANIES FROM UNSAFE AND
POSSIBLY FATAL PRODUCTS. THAT JOB HAS GOTTEN A LOT HARDER
TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ON FOOD PRODUCTS, ON TOYS,
ON PHARMACEUTICALS {18:06:37} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} AND IN A MOMENT ON PET FOOD, WHICH I WILL
DISCUSS, BECAUSE THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR SO MANY COMPANIES HAS BEEN
SHUT DOWN PRODUCTION IN CANTON, OHIO, AND MOVE IT TO
CHINA, SHUT DOWN PRODUCTION IN TOLEDO OR DAYTON OR OHIO AND
MOVE IT TO CHINA, IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY, IN ORDER TO CUT WORKER
SAFETY COSTS, IN ORDER TO EVADE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER
REGULATIONS SOMETIMES. THE NEW LAW THAT WE PASSED MEANT
THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TOYS AND FOOD AND OTHER IMPORTS
FROM CHINA AND {18:07:11} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} ELSEWHERE CAN BE RECALLED WHEN THEY ARE UNSAFE.
THE KEY IS INSPECTION OF THESE PRODUCTS, AND THE KEY
IS MAKING THE COMPANIES THAT OUTSOURCE THE JOBS TO CHINA
IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY, MAKING THEM LIABLE. WE DON'T WANT MORE
COURT CASES, MORE LITIGATION, BUT IF THESE COMPANIES ARE GOING
TO MOVE PRODUCTION TO CHINA, THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE LEAD, IF THERE IS LEAD ON THE TOYS, THAT THE TOYS HAVE
BEEN PAINTED WITH LEAD-BASED PAINT. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS, SOMETIMES DANGEROUS
INGREDIENTS {18:07:44} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} THAT SOMEBODY HAS SOMEHOW PUT IN THESE PHARMACEUTICALS
WHEN PRODUCTION COMES FROM CHINA. THEY NEED TO
BE CAREFUL ABOUT FOOD SAFETY. THEY NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT TREATS
FOR PETS THAT HAVE BEEN CONTAMINATED. THAT ACT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS.
LAST YEAR, DR. WEIDENHAMMER CONDUCTED ANOTHER TEST AND FOUND
NO PRODUCTS WITH PAINTED HALLOWEEN ITEMS -- NO -- FOUND NO
PROBLEMS, FOUND NO LEAD-BASED PAINT CONTAMINATION. BUT THERE
IS A GAP IN OUR TRADE {18:08:15} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} SYSTEM THAT THREATENS PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC
SAFETY. WE PASSED A LAW TO CLOSE THAT GAP. PUBLIC SAFETY
BENEFITS. COMPANIES ARE STILL ABLE TO MAKE AND SELL
THEIR PRODUCTS IN THIS FREE MARKET. ONE YEAR AGO, CONGRESS PASSED,
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED INTO LAW THE BIPARTISAN FOOD SAFETY
MODERNIZATION ACT. THE LAW PROVIDES THE F.D.A. WITH THE TOOLS
NEEDED TO BETTER PROTECT OUR FOOD SUPPLY TO RECALL TAINTED
OR ADULT RATED FOOD AND TO RESPOND MORE EFFECTIVELY TO FOOD-BORNE
ILLNESS OUTBREAKS. IT EMPOWERED THE F.D.A. WITH NEW
AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A TRACEABILITY SYSTEM. THAT IS,
IF WHEN A PRODUCT {18:08:47} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} COMES TO YOUR TABLE, WHETHER IT'S FOOD IN
THIS CASE, A PHARMACEUTICAL, WHETHER IT'S A TOY, WE -- THE
COMPANY THAT SELLS THAT PRODUCT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO TRACE
BACK ALL THE INGREDIENTS, ALL THE COMPONENTS. WHERE THEY
CAME FROM, HOW ARE THEY PRODUCED, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS ARE THEY
PRODUCED. IT EMPOWERED -- IT'S THAT TYPE OF PUBLIC SAFETY
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S SO IMPORTANT. YET, AS WE HAVE SEEN
WITH FOOD AND TOYS AND DRUGS IMPORTED FROM CHINA, NOW WE'RE SEEING
IT WITH PET {18:09:22} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} FOOD. YESTERDAY, I MET WITH KEVIN THAXTON
IN THE CLEVELAND AREA WHOSE WIFE CANDACE WROTE TO ME AFTER ONE OF
THEIR DOGS, A PUG, I BELIEVE A 9-YEAR-OLD PUG DIED FROM KIDNEY
FAILURE. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS THE PUG SIMPLY GETTING OLDER.
I HAD A PUG ONCE. PUGS DON'T USUALLY LIVE MUCH BEYOND TEN YEARS.
THEY THEN FOUND AS THEY GOT ANOTHER DOG, GOT SICK IMMEDIATELY,
THEY FIGURED OUT IT WAS LIKELY FROM EATING CHINESE-MADE CHICKEN
JERKY TREATS. AT THE TIME THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION,
UNTIL THE SECOND DOG, THEY DIDN'T MAKE THE SEX BETWEEN THE PET FOOD
AND THE PET {18:09:54} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} ILLNESS. WITH THE OTHER PUPPY, THE SECOND
PUPPY HAD A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS AFTER EATING THE
SAME PRODUCT. ANOTHER OHIOAN, TERRY SUPRANEK JOINED US IN OUR MEETING
TWO DAYS AGO. SHE LOST HER 9-YEAR-OLD FOX TERRIER LAST YEAR.
SHE DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE TAINTED CHICKEN JERKY TREAT
COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DOG'S DEATH UNTIL SHE
SAW THE OTHER STORY ON THE EVENING NEWS. THESE TWO FAMILIES AND
THE 62% OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS WHO OWN A PET SHOULDN'T HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT THE {18:10:26} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} SAFETY OF THE FOOD THEY GAVE THEIR -- GIVE
THEIR PETS. IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A TRADE ISSUE TRANSFORMING INTO
A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW, AGAIN, TO EXPLAIN, SO MANY COMPANIES IN THE
U.S. AS PART OF THEIR BUSINESS PLAN DECIDE IN ORDER TO SAVE
MONEY, IN ORDER TO EVADE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS AND FOOD SAFETY
LAWS AND WORKER SAFETY LAWS AND ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, FOR WHATEVER
REASON, THEY MOVE THEIR PRODUCTION TO CHINA WITH SIGNIFICANTLY
CHEAPER LABOR. THEY SHUT DOWN COLUMBUS OR CINCINNATI,
OHIO, THEY MOVE {18:10:59} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} TO CHINA TO MANUFACTURE THESE PRODUCTS THEY
SELL BACK INTO THE U.S. PROBABLY UNPRESS -- UNPRECEDENTED IN
ECONOMIC OR WORLD HISTORIES WHERE COMPANIES SHUT DOWN ONE PLACE,
MOVE OVERSEAS, PRODUCE THE SAME ITEMS, SELL THEM BACK INTO
THE HOME MARKET. WE KNOW WITH THAT WHOLE TRADE REGIMEN, THAT WHOLE
BUSINESS PLAN OF SHUTTING DOWN PRODUCTION, MOVING OVERSEAS,
SELLING BACK IN, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH AND SAFETY PROBLEMS.
AGAIN, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH LEAD-BASED PAINT, THERE
ARE PROBLEMS WITH OTHER CONSUMER ITEMS, SAFETY. THERE IS PROBLEMS
WITH FOOD {18:11:30} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} SAFETY. THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH PHARMACEUTICAL
CONTAMINATION INGREDIENTS. AND NOW THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH
PET FOODS. THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS LOGGED MORE
THAN 350 REPORTS OF PET ILLNESSES THOUGHT TO BE CONNECTED TO
CHICKEN JERKY TREATS MADE IN CHINA. ALTHOUGH THE F.D.A.
HAS ALREADY ISSUED A WARNING ABOUT ILLNESS, THEY HAVE NOT YET FOR
SURE IDENTIFIED A CONTAMINANT. THE TREATS REMAIN ON MARKET SHELVES
IN STORES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I WOULD NEVER ON THIS
SENATE FLOOR SUGGEST PEOPLE BUY SOMETHING OR BOYCOTT SOMETHING
ELSE. I WOULD {18:12:02} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} SUGGEST, THOUGH, THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT THE PRODUCT
WHEN THEY BUY SOMETHING FOR THEIR PET AND THEY LOOK WHERE
IT'S MADE AND MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT BASED ON THAT. I'M CALLING
ON THE F.D.A. TO ACCELERATE ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE IMPORTED
PET FOOD, ESPECIALLY FOOD IMPORTED FROM CHINA WHERE
THE POSSIBILITY OF FOOD CONTAMINATION IS HIGHER. THAT'S THE F.D.A.'S
JOB. EARLIER THIS WEEK, I SENT A LETTER TO DR. HAMBURG,
THE F.D.A. COMMISSIONER, URGING HER AGENCY TO ACT SWIFTLY
TO MAKE SURE THAT PRODUCTS FOUND TO BE HELPFUL ARE PULLED
FROM RETAIL OUTLETS. I HAVE ASKED THE F.D.A. TO APPROVE
ITS NOTIFICATION {18:12:34} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} SYSTEM SO PET OWNERS KNOW ABOUT ITEMS UNDER
INVESTIGATION FOR PET FOOD SAFETY BREACHES. THE F.D.A. SHOULD
PROMPTLY PURSUE EFFORTS TO FIND THE CONTAMINANT IN THESE PET
TREATS AND ENSURE THEY ARE PULLED FROM STORE SHELVES TO PREVENT
ANY UNNECESSARY PET DEATHS. CONTAMINATED TOYS, HARD TO TRACE
MEDICAL INGREDIENTS, NOW PET FOOD HAVE ALL FORCED
AMERICANS TO TURN TO THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE
PRODUCTS WE IMPORT. NOW, IT'S A PROBLEM WITH TRADE LAW THAT WE
HAVE SET THIS UP TO HAPPEN FAR TOO OFTEN. IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN
GOVERNMENT WORKS {18:13:08} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} WHEN WE STEPPED IN ON LEAD-BASED PAINT AND
KEPT THESE PRODUCTS OFF THE MARKET AND MADE SURE THAT PRODUCTS
COMING IN NOW ARE SAFER BECAUSE WE PASSED THE CONSUMER PROTECTION
REVISION. IT SHOWS THE GOVERNMENT STEPPING IN IN THE RIGHT
WAY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES, SAVING THE LIVES
OF CHILDREN, PROTECTING PEOPLE'S PETS, PROTECTING PHARMACEUTICALS,
MAKING SURE THAT PHARMACEUTICAL SAFETY IS GUARANTEED
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE.
THERE IS NOTHING {18:13:39} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} FREE ABOUT TRADE THAT UNDERMINES BASIC HEALTH
LAW, HEALTH RULES. THERE IS NOTHING FREE ABOUT TRADE THAT
WEAKEN SAFETY RULES. THE VERY RULES THAT HELP KEEP GOOD
-- FOOD SAFE TO EAT, WATER SAFE TO DRINK. ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN
TO PROTECT AMERICAN PET OWNERS FROM TAINTED PRODUCTS THAT CAN
HARM THEIR PETS. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME VICTORY FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT THE AIR WE BREATHE, THE WATER WE DRINK, THE FOOD WE
TAKE, THE TOYS WE BUY FOR OUR CHILDREN, THE TREATS WE BUY FOR
OUR PETS, WE HAVE {18:14:12} (MR. BROWN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
} DONE A GOOD JOB IN THIS COUNTRY IN THE LAST
SEVERAL DECADES OF THE GOVERNMENT PARTNERING WITH BUSINESSES
TO MAKE SURE THESE PRODUCTS ARE GENERALLY SAFE FOR OUR FAMILIES,
FOR OURSELVES, FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR OUR PETS. NOW BECAUSE
OF THESE HOLES IN OUR TRADE LAWS, THESE TRADE LAWS THAT ENCOURAGE
COMPANIES TO GO OVERSEAS AND PRODUCE PRODUCTS, SELL THEM BACK
HERE CLEARLY HAS UNDERMINED SO MUCH OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE, ACCOMPLISHED
BIPARTISANLY FOR SO MANYIERS TO MAKE -- FOR THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC. IT SHOWS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
CAN BE IMPORTANT. IT SHOWS THAT WE DO KNOW HOW TO DO THIS TO
PROTECT OUR FAMILIES. MR. PRESIDENT, I URGE THE F.D.A. TO STEP
IN HERE ON THIS ISSUE AND HELP AMERICAN FAMILIES. MR.
PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.