Press Release

House Passes FY 2010 Funding Bill For Agriculture And Food And Drug Administration

Today, Congressman Sires supported H.R. 2997, the fiscal year 2010 Department of Agriculture and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill, which passed the House by a vote of 266 to 160. The bill makes a number of key investments to protect public health and aid low income households: $3 billion for the Food and Drug Administration, $7.5 billion for Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and $180 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

"I am very pleased that the Commodity Supplemental Food Program was expanded to include New Jersey," said Congressman Sires. "The $180 million included in the bill is critical to providing nutritious food to low-income women, infants, children and elderly during this period of economic stress and will help bring relief to families struggling with rising food costs."

Funding for H.R. 2997 totals $22.9 billion and also includes $7.5 billion in needed funding for the WIC program, which helps provide proper funding and nutrition to mothers and their children. The bill also features $125 million for program improvements including fruit and vegetable vouchers and expanding nutrition education programs for mothers.

H.R. 2997 now awaits Senate action.