LAWMAKERS APPROVE FY10 AGRICULTURE SPENDING BILL
News Date June 16, 2009
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies approved a FY 2010 $22.9 billion spending bill last week. The measure authorizes $20.4 billion in discretionary spending for USDA, which is a $2.3 billion increase over the FY09 appropriations bill, but $78 million less than the Administration's budget request.
One of the most significant actions came when the panel eliminated funding for USDA's National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Subcommittee Chairman Rose DeLauro (D-CT) said further investments in the current NAIS are unwarranted "until USDA finishes its multi-city NAIS listening tour and provides details on how it will implement an effective ID system."
The bill also proposes over $650 million in spending reductions. Nutrition programs, such as the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, FDA and international food aid got the highest percentage of budget increases. The Women, Infants and Children program is provided with $7.5 billion, ten percent higher than this year. The bill provides FDA with $2.3 billion for the next fiscal year, including user fees, and is almost a $7 million increase over FY09 spending. Of this increase, $134 million is designated for the foods center, $44 million for the drugs center and $35 million for the medical devices center. The international food aid program received $1.7 billion. Of that amount, $464 million would be provided to the P.L. 480 Title II Grants Program.
The USDA spending would fully fund the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). USDA conservation programs would be provided $980 million. The panel rejected the Administration's proposals for $73 million in spending cuts and more money will be provided for the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). Rural Development programs are provided $2.8 billion. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission received the full amount requested at $160 million. The full Appropriations Committee will mark up the bill on June 18 and it is scheduled for debate by the full House in early July. (Contact: Kasey Miller or David Hickey)