IFT Announces the 2008 Congressional Support for Science Award Winners

    WASHINGTON, June 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Institute of Food
 Technologists, the not-for-profit scientific society for food science and
 technology, today announced the recipients of the 2008 Congressional
 Support for Science Award. The 2008 award winners are Congresswoman Rosa
 DeLauro (D-CT) and Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-KY). IFT will recognize and
 present these two congressional leaders with their awards today during a
 reception in Washington, DC at the Rayburn House Office Building, B369.
 
     The IFT Congressional Support for Science Award acknowledges
 distinguished service by legislators or policy-makers who advocate for
 advancing the role of science and technology in food and agricultural
 policies. Criteria also considered include sustained attention to the
 scientific integrity of food and nutrition or health issues. The award is
 presented annually to two members of Congress as an acknowledgment for
 their outstanding contributions to science-based food policies during the
 previous year.
 
     U.S. Rep. DeLauro serves as chairwoman of the Appropriations
 Agriculture Subcommittee in the 110th Congress. Through this position, she
 has worked to provide funding for a safe food supply and a healthy
 agricultural economy. DeLauro also co-founded the Congressional Food Safety
 Caucus to explore remedies to secure the food supply to battle the rising
 instances of food safety and foodborne illness.
 
     "We are very proud to recognize Congresswoman DeLauro for her
 dedication to making the U.S. food supply safe and nutritious for
 consumers," said IFT President John Floros, Ph.D.
 
     IFT is also recognizing U.S. Rep. Whitfield, who serves on the House
 Committee on Energy and Commerce and is the ranking member on the Commerce,
 Trade, and Consumer Protection (CTP) Subcommittee. Floros added, "Rep.
 Whitfield's unique knowledge of farming operations has positioned him as an
 important voice on a range of food issues from farm-to-fork, and this award
 recognizes his dedication."
 
     Whitfield offered unwavering support of the Food and Energy Security
 Act of 2007, also known as the Farm Bill. Whitfield voted for H.R. 2419,
 authorizing $714 billion over the next ten years to fund a wide range of
 U.S. agriculture and food assistance programs.
 
     Prior recipients of the IFT Congressional Support for Science Award
 are:
 
     Sen. Saxby Chambliss (Georgia) - 2007
 
     Sen. Blanche Lincoln (Kentucky) - 2007
 
     Sen. Robert Bennett (Utah) - 2006
 
     Rep. Bob Etheridge (North Carolina) - 2006
 
     Sen. Kit Bond (Missouri) - 2005
 
     Rep. Collin Peterson (Minnesota) - 2005
 
     Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) - 2004
 
     Rep. Henry Bonilla (Texas) - 2004
 
     Rep. Rush Holt (New Jersey) - 2003
 
     Rep. Frank Lucas (Oklahoma) - 2003
 
     Rep. Nick Smith (Michigan) - 2002
 
     Rep. Charles Stenholm (Texas) - 2002
 
     Sen. Thad Cochran (Mississippi) - 2001
 
     Sen. Richard Durbin (Illinois) - 2001
 
     About IFT
 
     Founded in 1939, and with world headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, USA,
 the Institute of Food Technologists is a not-for-profit international
 scientific society with 22,000 members working in food science and
 technology and related professions in industry, academia and government. As
 the society for food science and technology, IFT brings sound science to
 the public discussion of food issues. For more on IFT, visit www.ift.org.
 
 
 

SOURCE Institute of Food Technologists