{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-fda-ensure-nh-input-on-food-safety-regulations-is-heard", "Kuster to FDA: Ensure NH Input on Food Safety Regulations Is Heard", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NH", "Ann Kuster", "K000382", "kuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In light of recent technical problems with Regulations.gov, Kuster calls for an extension of the comment period to ensure New Hampshire farmers have a chance to share feedback\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) is leading a coalition of New England lawmakers in calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend the comment period for two proposed Food Safety Modernization Act rules.\u00a0In recent days, technical problems with Regulations.gov, the website where public comments are submitted, have prevented Granite Staters from submitting comments in advance of Friday\u2019s deadline. The letter to FDA Commissioner Hamburg comes after Rep. Kuster heard from numerous constituents who experienced problems submitting comments through the website.\n\u201cIt came to our attention last week that Regulations.gov, the federal government\u2019s website that provides information on proposed federal regulations and allows for the electronic submission of public comments, was experiencing technical problems that prevented the website from functioning,\u201d the group wrote to Commissioner Hamburg. \u201cWe are gravely concerned that these problems are preventing our constituents from submitting comments on the proposed FSMA rules in advance of this Friday\u2019s deadline.\u00a0As a result, we request that the comment period for the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules be extended for a minimum of one additional week from the day that Regulations.gov is properly running.\u201d\n\u201cThe New England Farmers Union has worked diligently and in good faith to get help educate farmers on the importance of commenting on the proposed FSMA rules,\u201d said Roger Noonan, President of the New England Farmers Union. \u201cThe issues with the website have discouraged some of our farmers from engaging in this vitally important process. We know FDA wants to hear from farmers and we urge them to consider this request.\u201d\nFor months, Kuster has led efforts to ensure that Granite Staters have sufficient time and information to provide comments on the proposed food safety rules. Earlier this year, Kuster and Senator Shaheen led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers to successfully call on the FDA to come to New England after hearing concerns about these new rules potentially burdening small farmers across the region. In August, Kuster also pushed FDA to answer specific questions raised by New Hampshire farmers about how the proposed rules will impact their operations.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nThe full text of the letter is below:\nNovember 13, 2013\nDear Commissioner Hamburg:\nThank you for your agency\u2019s continued efforts to ensure that farmers and consumers have an opportunity to provide input on FDA\u2019s proposed Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) rules.\u00a0 While we appreciate that the comment period for the proposed Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules was extended until this Friday, November 15, 2013, we write today with concerns regarding the ability of the public to submit their comments electronically.\nIt came to our attention last week that Regulations.gov, the federal government\u2019s website that provides information on proposed federal regulations and allows for the electronic submission of public comments, was experiencing technical problems that prevented the website from functioning.\u00a0 These problems persisted last week and throughout this past weekend, and the website was still nonfunctional on Monday morning.\nWe are gravely concerned that these problems are preventing our constituents from submitting comments on the proposed FSMA rules in advance of this Friday\u2019s deadline.\u00a0 As a result, we request that the comment period for the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules be extended for a minimum of one additional week from the day that Regulations.gov is properly running.\u00a0 It is inexcusable to close a public comment period if the public has not been able to submit their comments.\nWe appreciate your continued willingness to ensure that the voices of the American people are heard, and we urge you to extend the public comment period for the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls rules.\nThank you for your consideration of our request.\u00a0 We look forward to your timely response.\nSincerely,\nRep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02)  \n\tRep. Joe Courtney (CT-02)  \n\tRep. Chellie Pingree (ME- 01)  \n\tRep. Peter Welch (VT-AL)  \n\tRep. Michael H. Michaud (ME-02)  \n\tRep. Tim Ryan (OH-13)  \n\tRep. Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)  \n\tRep. William R. Keating (MA-09)  \n\tRep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04)  \n\tRep. James P. McGovern (MA-02)  \n\tRep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://kuster.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kuster-to-fda-ensure-nh-input-on-food-safety-regulations-is-heard"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2369209434837103, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}