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Senate passes food safety bill–again

The Senate late Sunday passed the FDA food safety bill by unanimous consent, sending it to the House where passage is expected.  President Obama has said he will sign the legislation.

It was the second time the Senate passed the bill.  The first time was three weeks ago, but it was caught in a constitutional snag when senators mistakenly included tax provisions that are, by law, supposed to originate in the House.  Many thought the bill was dead, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell brokered an agreement late Sunday.

The legislation would give the government broad new powers to increase inspections of food processing facilities and force companies to recall tainted food.  It would also give the FDA access to internal records at farms and food-production facilities.

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, a lead sponsor of the bill, called it “a critical victory—I look forward to standing with the president as he signs this important measure into law.”