House Panel Approves 07 Farm Bill Titles On Nutrition and Forestry

News Date June 18, 2007

On June 14, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry marked up and approved two titles for the 2007 farm bill. The subcommittee approved the Nutrition and Forestry titles by voice vote and no major amendments were offered.
        
During the session, several republicans on the panel expressed concern that proposed increased funding for the food stamp and other nutrition programs was based on "reserved funds" which may never materialize. Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) said the budget issue had the attention of the congressional leadership and he hoped the issue would be resolved soon.
        
The subcommittee approved an amendment offered by Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) to change the name of the food stamp program to the "Secure Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SSNAP)." The panel also approved an amendment offered by Rep. Steve Kagen (D-Wisc.) to create a grant program for nutrition education. Kagen withdrew two amendments to promote "shelf stable"(canned) fruits and vegetables for low income households, and to increase funding for the USDA fresh fruit/vegetable program. Lawmakers defeated an amendment offered by Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) that would have allowed states to use private contractors to manage certain parts of the food stamp program.
        
Both the Nutrition and Forestry Titles are posted on the House Agriculture Committee's farm bill website, along with a section-by-section summary, at http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html
        
This week, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management will markup the commodity title of the farm bill. A discussion draft is also posted on the House Agriculture Committee's website. News reports indicate that the subcommittee may also debate and consider alternative proposals for the commodity title such as one proposed by the Cato Institute that suggests that "Congress should consider an up-front buyout program in place of existing subsidies and price supports." The proposal can be located at http://www.freetrade.org/files/pubs/pas/tpa-034.pdf. This markup will complete subcommittee markups with the full committee taking up the bill next week. (Contacts: Charlie Ingram and Jennifer Yezak)