2018: Fitzpatrick Voted To Define "Natural Cheese" Labeling To Only
Include Cheese Produced From Animal Milk Or Other Dairy Ingredients And
Is Made By Established Cheese-Making Techniques. In December 2018,
Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"'natural cheese' as cheese that is produced from animal milk or other
dairy ingredients and is produced in accordance with established
cheese-making practices. Under the measure, a food product is considered
mislabeled if it includes the term 'natural cheese' as a factual
descriptor of a category of cheese unless the food meets the definition
of natural cheese. The bill uses existing regulations that define
different types of cheese and specifies which of these cheeses can be
considered natural. In general, pasteurized process cheeses, pasteurized
process cheese spreads, pasteurized blended cheeses, cold pack cheeses,
grated American cheese food and any other product designated as a
process cheese is not a natural cheese. Milk is also defined according
to existing regulations and the bill specifically states that milk can
come from animals other than cows." The vote was on a motion to suspend
the rules and pass the bill, which required a 2/3 majority, or 262
affirmative votes in favor for this vote. The House rejected the motion
by a vote of 230 to 162. The House took no further action. [House Vote
463, 12/20/18;
Congressional Quarterly,
12/19/18; Congressional Actions,
S.
2322]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The FY 2018 Republican Study Committee
Budget Resolution Which In Part Called For Eliminating Milk Subsides.
In October 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against a budget resolution that
would in part, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide for $2.9
trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2018. It would balance the
budget by fiscal 2023 by reducing spending by $10.1 trillion over 10
years. It would cap total discretionary spending at $1.06 trillion for
fiscal 2018 and would assume no separate Overseas Contingency Operations
funding for fiscal 2018 or subsequent years and would incorporate
funding related to war or terror into the base defense account. It would
assume repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul and would convert
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program into a single block
grant program. It would require that off budget programs, such as Social
Security, the U.S. Postal Service, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, be
included in the budget." The underlying legislation was an FY 2018 House
GOP budget resolution. The House rejected the RSC budget by a vote of
139 to 281. [House Vote 555,
10/5/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 10/5/17; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
455;
Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res.
71]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Restricting The Federal Government
From Preventing Interstate Transportation Of Unpasteurized Milk Between
States That Allow It For Human Consumption. In May 2018, Fitzpatrick
voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional
Quarterly, "prohibit federal interference in the interstate
transportation of unpasteurized milk and milk products between states
that allow for the distribution of such products for direct human
consumption." The underlying bill was the 2018 House GOP farm bill. The
House rejected the amendment by a vote of 79 to 331. [House Vote 201,
5/18/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/18/18; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
627;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2]