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Making America's Food Safer Act

USA119th CongressS-4974| Senate 
| Updated: 7/28/2026
Tommy Tuberville

Tommy Tuberville

Republican Senator

Alabama

Cosponsors (2)
Bill Cassidy (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The Making America's Food Safer Act seeks to strengthen food safety regulations by expanding the application and utility of accredited third-party certifications. It broadens the definition of an eligible entity to include any foreign or domestic food supply chain participant that chooses to undergo auditing. The Secretary is now mandated to use these certifications to determine if food meets safety requirements and if facilities qualify for the voluntary qualified importer program, while also allowing their consideration for risk analysis and inspection prioritization. A significant provision of the bill authorizes the Secretary to share unredacted food safety information with State, local, Tribal, and territorial authorities . This includes critical data such as foodborne illness surveillance, laboratory testing results, inspectional findings, recall distribution lists, and consumer complaints. Such information can be shared as soon as reasonably practicable, though recipient authorities are generally restricted from further disclosure unless necessary for public health emergencies or enforcement. Furthermore, the legislation grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services new authority to order the destruction of certain refused imported articles . If an article violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and presents a significant public health concern, it can be ordered destroyed without the option for export. This process requires regulations to ensure due process, including notice and an opportunity for the owner or consignee to challenge the decision, with the owner bearing the costs of destruction.

Bill Text Versions

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3 versions available

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Timeline
Jul 14, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jul 14, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jul 22, 2026
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 28, 2026
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jul 28, 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.
  • July 14, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 14, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • July 22, 2026
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • July 28, 2026
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • July 28, 2026
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.

Health

Administrative law and regulatory proceduresDepartment of Health and Human ServicesFood supply, safety, and labelingIntergovernmental relationsLicensing and registrations

Making America's Food Safer Act

USA119th CongressS-4974| Senate 
| Updated: 7/28/2026
The Making America's Food Safer Act seeks to strengthen food safety regulations by expanding the application and utility of accredited third-party certifications. It broadens the definition of an eligible entity to include any foreign or domestic food supply chain participant that chooses to undergo auditing. The Secretary is now mandated to use these certifications to determine if food meets safety requirements and if facilities qualify for the voluntary qualified importer program, while also allowing their consideration for risk analysis and inspection prioritization. A significant provision of the bill authorizes the Secretary to share unredacted food safety information with State, local, Tribal, and territorial authorities . This includes critical data such as foodborne illness surveillance, laboratory testing results, inspectional findings, recall distribution lists, and consumer complaints. Such information can be shared as soon as reasonably practicable, though recipient authorities are generally restricted from further disclosure unless necessary for public health emergencies or enforcement. Furthermore, the legislation grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services new authority to order the destruction of certain refused imported articles . If an article violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and presents a significant public health concern, it can be ordered destroyed without the option for export. This process requires regulations to ensure due process, including notice and an opportunity for the owner or consignee to challenge the decision, with the owner bearing the costs of destruction.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
3 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 14, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jul 14, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jul 22, 2026
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 28, 2026
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Jul 28, 2026
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.
  • July 14, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 14, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • July 22, 2026
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • July 28, 2026
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • July 28, 2026
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 530.
Tommy Tuberville

Tommy Tuberville

Republican Senator

Alabama

Cosponsors (2)
Bill Cassidy (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Health

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresDepartment of Health and Human ServicesFood supply, safety, and labelingIntergovernmental relationsLicensing and registrations