Before the Senate recessed to campaign for the mid-term elections, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) filed a motion that sets up a vote to proceed to debate on a long-delayed food safety bill when Congress returns in November. With little fanfare, Reid moved to invoke cloture in November on a motion to proceed to the bipartisan bill. Sixty votes will be needed.
Reid has blamed Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) for single-handedly blocking action on the bill, which enjoys broad bipartisan support. The measure would overhaul food safety laws and strengthen FDA's enforcement powers.
Food industry groups and food safety advocates, who have been waiting for floor action since committee approval of the bill in November 2009, pushed in vain for a vote before the mid-term elections. The coalition held a news conference, sent letters and had their members and lobbyists contact Senate offices in a drive to get the bill through.
