The House of Representatives Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee passed its $140.7 billion (mandatory and discretionary funding) fiscal year 2013 agriculture appropriations bill. The legislation includes $19.4 billion in discretionary funding, which is $365 million below last year’s level and $1.7 billion below the administration’s request.
Highlights of the bill include:
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) – Provides $996 million for food safety and inspection programs, which is equal to the administration’s request and $9 million below last year.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Provides $787 million for APHIS, $33 million below last year’s level.
Conservation – Provides $812 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a decrease of $16 million from last year.
Research – Provides $2.5 billion for agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, a reduction of $35 million from last year.
Trade Promotion – Fully funds the trade promotion programs of the Foreign Market Development program at $34.5 million and the Market Access Program at $200 million.
Rural Development – Provides $2.1 billion for rural development programs, a reduction of $180 million from last year.
Food and Nutrition – The legislation provides $6.9 billion in discretionary funding for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, which is $305 million above last year. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamp program, receives $80 billion in mandatory funding, $408 million below last year’s level.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – FDA receives $2.5 billion in discretionary funding, a reduction of $16.3 million.
The bill will be considered by the House Appropriations Committee sometime the week of June 19.
