Source: Julie Larson Bricher, MEATINGPLACE, 3/19/18


U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), an advocate for ethical use of antibiotics in animal agriculture, passed away Friday at the age of 88.

The representative died at George Washington University Hospital while receiving treatment for a concussion as the result of a fall at her Washington, D.C. home.  

First elected to Congress in 1986, Rep. Slaughter was the oldest member of the House of Representatives at the time of her death, as well as the first and only woman to have ever served as chair of the House Rules Committee. Previous to her political life, Rep. Slaughter, who held a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a master’s degree in public health, worked at Proctor & Gamble.

As Congress’ only microbiologist, Rep. Slaughter brought a science-based knowledge to her congressional work, which included authoring and passing the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act that protects U.S. citizens from having their genetic or medical information used against them. She also championed food safety policies and laws and was the first member of Congress to address the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals and the associated possible dangers to public health.
Lance Price, director of the Antibiotic Resistance Center and professor of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, expressed deep sadness at the news of Slaughter’s passing.

“[Rep. Slaughter] was a stalwart champion of many issues important to the American people. We knew her best through her commitment to fighting the growing public health crisis of antibiotic resistance,” Price said in a press statement.

Noting that she was the only microbiologist in Congress, Price added that Rep. Slaughter had a unique understanding of the reduction of antibiotic effectiveness over time and was an advocate for policies that reduce unnecessary uses of these drugs.

“She was particularly passionate about ending misuse of antibiotics in food animal production,” Price said. “It was her commitment to this issue that led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, after almost 30 years of inaction, to take steps to rein in some of the most egregious uses of antibiotics in animal agriculture."

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