Udall Advances Priorities of New Mexico Farmers and Ranchers, Rural Communities in Bipartisan Agriculture Funding Bill

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined the Senate Appropriations Committee in unanimously advancing an Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration funding bill that makes critical investments in agriculture, nutrition and research programs to support New Mexico families and rural communities. The bill sets the Fiscal Year 2020 budgets for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and now heads to the full Senate.

"In New Mexico -- farming and ranching are a way of life -- with deep roots in our culture and heritage. Agriculture is also a key economic engine for our communities, and I was pleased to support this bipartisan bill after ensuring critical resources for our farmers and ranchers and rural communities would be protected," said Udall, a member of the Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee. "This bill gives support to a range of New Mexico's farming communities -- including acequias, land grants, veterans, beginning farmers, and those that may be socially disadvantaged -- ensuring access to critical federal assistance so that farming can continue for future generations. And it provides an increase in funding for agricultural research, to bolster the first-class innovation happening in our state. I'm also very pleased that this bill contains my amendment to continue the ban on commercial horse slaughter for human consumption in the United States and directs USDA to better protect children from the cruel practice of "lunch shaming' over school lunch bills."

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