On March 2, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the House Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, announced that he intends to mark up a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in May, with the goal of having the measure reach the floor in June. The first hearing tied to the reauthorization was held last week by Representative George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. Education Secretary Arne Duncan is scheduled to testify before the House panel Wednesday.

 

Additionally, on March 2, Senator Harkin announced that food safety legislation should be on the Senate floor this spring with the aim of sending a bill to the President’s desk by May. In November, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee gave voice vote approval to a bipartisan food safety bill (S 510) sponsored by Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-IL). The House passed a companion bill (HR 2749) in July. Both bills would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) more power over domestic and imported foods, including the ability to order mandatory recalls.