Reinstate Salmonella Testing Rules and Support Food Safety Inspectors

I am deeply concerned about the withdrawal of the proposed salmonella testing rules by the USDA. This decision jeopardizes public health and contradicts the goal of making America healthier. The statistics are alarming: 125,000 salmonella infections from chicken and 43,000 from turkey annually, with salmonella causing 1.35 million infections and about 420 deaths per year overall. The proposed rule, which took three years to develop, was a crucial step towards preventing food-borne illnesses. It would have required poultry companies to maintain salmonella bacteria levels below a certain threshold and test for six strains most associated with illness. This approach is reminiscent of the successful 1994 decision to ban certain strains of dangerous E. coli bacteria from ground beef after deadly outbreaks. I urge you to take immediate action to protect public health. First, please demand that the USDA reinstate these vital regulations. Second, it is critical to rehire fired food inspectors and scientists to ensure proper monitoring and swift action against contaminated food. The CDC's ability to track food-borne illnesses is essential for public safety. Furthermore, it's unacceptable that food inspectors are currently working without pay. This situation undermines our food safety infrastructure and puts all Americans at risk. We need your leadership to ensure that these crucial public servants receive the compensation they deserve for their vital work. Congress needs to negotiate a budget that will keep the government open and working for the benefit of the American people, to promptly swear in elected representatives, and release the Epstein files. Please reply noting the actions you have taken to get the salmonella rules reinstated. Thank you