U.S. House Approves Agriculture Appropriations Act

U.S. House Approves Agriculture Appropriations Act

Legislation supports Farmers, rural America

The United States House of Representatives approved Wednesday the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R 5384), the annual agriculture budget authorization for fiscal year 2007. The bill passed by a 378-46 vote.

"This bill will support our nation's farmers by providing necessary funding for important nutrition programs, public health research, and food safety," said U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis (KY-02). "I praise my colleagues for passing a bill that provides funding for critical programs in a responsible way that honors our commitment to spend taxpayer dollars wisely."

The Agriculture bill provides $18.4 billion in discretionary spending for a variety of programs that fund agriculture and conservation programs, food safety and inspection, Food Stamps and child nutrition services. The measure also includes $76 billion in spending for mandatory programs.

Among other things, H.R. 5384 provides: $853 million for the Food Safety and Inspection Service; $1.5 billion for the Food and Drug Administration; $13.3 billion for Child Nutrition Programs; $5.244 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); and $700 million for the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP).

The bill also authorizes $850,000 to the Southeastern Livestock Network, a regional producer-driven coalition dedicated to finding workable ways to institute a voluntary Animal ID system.

"I am glad to have had the opportunity to play a role in securing funding for this important program," said Lewis.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ky02_lewis/ag.html