|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State Rep. Mike Sturla Chairman, Majority Policy Committee |
State Rep. Mike O'Brien D-Philadelphia Hearing Co-Chairman |
Majority Policy Committee examines the use of human antibiotics
on Pennsylvania's healthy livestock
HARRISBURG, Aug. 10 – The House Majority Policy Committee held a public hearing today at the state Capitol to consider the issue of limiting the use of human antibiotics on healthy livestock, according to Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.
State Rep. Michael O'Brien, D-Phila., requested the hearing and served as its co-chairman.
"Antibiotic resistance, a major concern of the Centers for Disease Control, has been traced back to the routine feeding of human antibiotics to livestock and poultry," Sturla said. "This was an important topic to investigate as it may have major implications on many industries: from health care to agriculture. I applaud Representative O'Brien's knowledge on this issue and thank him for having the Policy Committee take a closer look at what it may mean for Pennsylvania."
"Feeding livestock antibiotics has become a common practice in the agriculture industry, but it is important to investigate what the consequences are on the human population who consume the farm products," O'Brien said. "The people who testified today are some of the foremost experts on this topic and were able to provide valuable insight to the committee on what actions Pennsylvania may need to consider."
Those testifying at the hearing included Dr. Ellen Silbergeld, professor, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health; Gary Swan, director of governmental affairs and communications, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; and veterinarian David Wolfgang, field studies director, Penn State University Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences.
For more information about the Policy Committee and hearing materials, go to www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee.