Appropriations Committee Approves the Fiscal Year 2014 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2014 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which will now head to the House floor for consideration. The proposed legislation funds important agricultural and food programs and services, including food safety, animal and plant health programs, rural development and farm services, marketplace oversight, and nutrition programs.

The bill totals $19.5 billion in discretionary funding, which is $1.3 billion below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level and approximately equal to the current level caused by automatic sequestration spending cuts. This total is $516 million below the President’s request for these programs.

“I applaud the Committee approval of this bill today. From keeping our food and drug supply the safest in the world, to supporting our farmers and ranchers who create millions of American jobs, to helping our most vulnerable families put meals on the table, the funding in this bill is critical to our nation’s economy,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said.

“The bill reported out of Committee today will help America’s agricultural research remain cutting edge, maintain vibrant rural communities, provide nutrition to those most vulnerable, keep our markets competitive in the global economy, and maintain the safest food and drug supply in the world. And, it does this while cutting spending by $1.3 billion below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level, ”Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt said.

The following amendments to the FY 2014 Agriculture Appropriations bill were adopted by the full committee today:

Rep. Lowey - The amendment adds report language on several topics within the jurisdiction of the FDA. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote. 

Rep. Wolf – The amendment adds bill language to establish a Congressional Commission on Hunger. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Culberson – The amendment prohibits funding for making reductions in programs, unless the change is enacted into law or unless it complies with existing transfer and reprogramming requirements. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote. 

Rep. Kaptur – The amendment makes technical changes to the report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Womack – The amendment prohibits funding for the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) to implement certain regulations that would adversely impact livestock producers. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 29-17.

Rep. Kingston – The amendment adds report language on reducing food-borne illness with regard to poultry inspections. The amendment was adopted on voice vote.

Rep. Simpson – The amendment allows white potatoes to be included as part of the WIC food program. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

Rep. Kingston – The amendment limits funding for certain Agriculture Department salaries unless the error rates for child nutrition programs are reduced. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 23-20.

Rep. Culberson – The amendment prohibits funding in the bill from going to states unless their SNAP and WIC participants are deemed eligible in compliance with current law. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 27-21. 

Rep. Lee – The amendment adds language expressing a sense of Congress that Congress should not pass laws that would increase hunger in the U.S. 

Rep. Fortenberry –The amendment prohibits funding to reclassify "rural" areas as it relates to certain rural housing programs. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote. 

Rep. Yoder – The amendment requires the CFTC and the SEC to jointly issue regulations relating to the regulation of derivatives that take place with U.S. persons doing business overseas, as opposed to multiple or separate standards. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 31-17.

Rep. Moran – The amendment prohibits funding for inspections of horse slaughter facilities in the U.S. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

For the text of the bill and report, please visit: /uploadedfiles/bills-113hr-sc-ap-fy2014-agriculture-subcommitteedraft.pdf and /uploadedfiles/hrpt-113-hr-2014-agriculture.pdf.

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