| The preliminary votes in order to vote upon H.R. 2749 have all passed. So now there is a 1 hour debate between John Dingell and Rep. Shimkus and then a final vote on the bill. If nobody changes their vote since yesterday, it's going to be 280 for, 150 against. Shimkus voted FOR the bill yesterday - one of only 50 Republicans to do so.
I'll note any interesting points in this debate in the comments here but so far Dingell is repeating what he said earlier today.
UPDATE: It appears that the debate is done. I think (if I am interpreting things right) that they are talking about whether or not to send the bill back to the Energy & Commerce committee with some amendments and have the E&C committee vote on the bill (sending it back to the full House for a vote).
Dingell doesn't like the amendment, which would designate how the FDA can spend the money gathered in the $500 fees from this bill. It says that 50% of the money goes to the purchase of food, and Dingell says that FDA does not purchase food.
UPDATE #2: Dingell calls out a Republican claim that the bill doesn't require the FDA to use the $500 fees on inspections. He said that it does do that. And he says that this amendment here would take money away from inspections and instead require to use half the money to purchase food, which isnt something the FDA does.
UPDATE #3: They are taking a 15 min vote on the motion to recommit - which I believe would add the amendment that takes 50% of the money for inspections and uses it to pay businesses who lose money when the FDA screws up. Following that they are taking a 5 minute vote, and I believe that is for the bill itself. |
