From a New York Times account of congressional maneuvering over a farm bill:
A plan to shift catfish inspections to the Agriculture Department from the Food and Drug Administration also appears to be impeding a deal on the bill. The $20 million Agriculture Department program has drawn considerable criticism because it duplicates a much cheaper program at the Food and Drug Administration. Despite the program's costs, the Agriculture Department has yet to inspect a single catfish.
Catfish farmers and Southern lawmakers say the program is needed to protect consumers from catfish imported from countries such as Vietnam. But critics call it a trade barrier designed to protect domestic catfish farmers.
In a letter sent Wednesday to those working on the farm bill, Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, called for a vote to repeal approval of the new inspection office.
Senator McCain's letter calls the inspection program "reckless and wasteful."