BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is asking U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy to encourage President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration to visit Louisiana before her confirmation process is completed.
Nungesser sent a letter to Cassidy on Thursday, Sept. 17, regarding the nomination of Dr. Heidi Overton as FDA commissioner. The White House formally sent Overton’s nomination to the Senate this week.
Cassidy serves as chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which has jurisdiction over public health matters.
In the letter, Nungesser said he wants Louisiana’s seafood, restaurant and tourism industries to be considered as the Senate weighs Overton’s nomination.
“Our seafood industry needs fair competition and strong safeguards. Our restaurant and tourism businesses depend on consumers having confidence in the food they eat. And our families deserve to know that the food they buy and serve their children is safe,” Nungesser wrote.
Nungesser asked Cassidy to encourage Overton to visit Louisiana. He wants Overton to meet with:
“I believe Dr. Overton should commit to coming to Louisiana before her confirmation process is completed to learn firsthand about our seafood industry, our restaurants, and our tourism economy,” Nungesser wrote.
Nungesser said the visit would let Overton hear from people in industries impacted by FDA decisions. This way, she could better understand how those decisions affect Louisiana businesses and workers.
He asked Cassidy to review Overton’s plans. This includes food-supply safety, oversight of imported food and seafood, and how American seafood producers are treated during the confirmation process.
“This is a job Washington needs to get right, and Louisiana deserves to have a voice in the process,” Nungesser wrote.
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