Congressman Bishop Leads Appropriations Committee Approval of Bill to Ensure Safe and Abundant Food, Fiber, and Medicine for All Americans

Statement

Yesterday, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, helped lead the consideration and approval of the subcommittee's Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill by the full House Appropriations Committee. The funds in this bill will support a wide range of federal programs that cover agriculture, rural development, and the Food and Drug Administration as well as other agencies.

"Every American is affected by this bill, from the food they eat, to the clothes they wear, to the medicine and medical devices they rely on to keep healthy. It helps our farmers get their goods to market. It helps provide nutritious food for our children and the most vulnerable in America. It also makes sure our rural communities have clean water, access to healthcare close to home, and high-speed internet," said Congressman Bishop. "I am particularly proud to have secured direct funding for two important projects in Southwest Georgia -- to improve rural broadband access in Seminole County and to support the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission as it helps a dozen counties update their communications equipment so that their emergency services can better coordinate and keep our communities safe."

WATCH: Congressman Bishop delivers opening remarks at the House Appropriations Committee markup of the Fiscal Year 2023 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies funding bill.

The City of Donalsonville, Georgia project will expand wireless, high-speed internet service to unserved and underserved residents in Seminole County. The Southwest Georgia Regional Commission project will help 12 counties -- Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth -- update and upgrade public safety communications equipment, so that fire and police departments as well as medical first responders can quickly coordinate emergency responses. Congressman Bishop will fight to maintain the funding for this project as the appropriations bill progresses through the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

"Funding for the Donalsonville upgrade and expansion will provide educational resources for students and families who do not have access to reliable internet service. For many more in Seminole County this may be the only available Internet access to their home or businesses and will also provide for enhanced economic development, social, and cultural opportunities giving citizens and businesses the ability to access services in the coverage area to utilize enhanced internet, telecommunication, and security networks. Public safety operations will also be enhanced through the mobile connectivity for real time information in emergency situations," said Steven Hicks, City Manager of Donalsonville. "The City of Donalsonville is appreciative of the support of Congressman Bishop and his staff in becoming a partner with the City of Donalsonville and Seminole County to deliver these timely and critical services."

"The upgraded communications system proposed in this funding request will provide enhanced communications reliability, interoperability, and functionality for our public safety responders, thus, providing enhanced safety for all persons in Southwest Georgia," said Suzanne Angell, Executive Director of the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission. "Interoperable communication is vital to initial response, public health, community safety, national security and economic stability, and we are hopeful that with the approval of this appropriations request, our communities in Southwest Georgia will be provided the public safety communications equipment they need and deserve. We are very thankful to Congressman Bishop and his team for making this project and the safety of Southwest GA citizens a priority!"

These projects are part of the overall, Fiscal Year 2023 subcommittee appropriations bill which provides $27.2 billion of funding for supported programs -- a critical increase of $2.075 billion, 8 percent -- above 2022. Some highlights include:

$4.2 billion for rural development programs, which will help create an environment for economic growth by providing business and housing opportunities and building sustainable rural infrastructure for the modern economy.
$243 million to facilitate the movement of agriculture products and open market opportunities.
$1.16 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which will support programs to help control or eradicate plant and animal pests and diseases that can be crippling to U.S. producers.
Nearly $3.6 billion for agriculture research, education, and economic programs, including the highest ever level for USDA's flagship competitive research program, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.
The bill includes $244 million for 1890 institutions.
$111 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which will serve 43.5 million Americans.
$6 billion which will help over 6 million individuals through the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and additional funds for other child nutrition and international food assistance programs.
The FDA receives a total of $3.6 billion in discretionary funding in the bill.
$64 million to address the opioid crisis as well as for medical supply chain surveillance, drug safety surveillance and oversight, and increasing and strengthening in-person inspections of foreign drug manufacturers in India.
$77 million in funding increase to better avoid or more quickly respond to food outbreaks, improve the animal food inspection system, and address heavy metals in baby food.

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