SENATE POISED TO LEAVE MAP FUNDING INTACT

News Date August 04, 2009

The Senate is expected to vote today on the FY 10 Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 2997). As reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee, the bill includes full funding of $200 million for the Market Access Program (MAP) and $34.5 million for the Foreign Market Development program (FMD). Twelve Senators have agreed to sign Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Peter Orzag and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in support of full funding for MAP and for maintaining branded promotion as an important component of the program. The twelve Senators include Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mark Pryor (D-AR), Max Baucus (D-MT), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Patty Murray (D-WA). (Contact: Amy Mann)