Members of the House appropriations subcommittee have sent the Fiscal Year 2018 Department of Agriculture and FDA spending bill to the full House. Political experts points out this proposal reverses many of President Trump’s proposed cuts.

 

The $145 billion bipartisan House bill is $4 billion above the president’s request, but $8.6 billion below current spending.  Still, it restores many of President Trump’s cuts to rural development, research, crop insurance and international feeding programs.  SNAP is still cut by almost $5 billion, to $74 billion, but an amount that meets SNAP enrollment and something Democrats say they can live with.

 

The minority offered few amendments directed at production agriculture.

 

Riders dealing with horse slaughter and e-cigarette advertising failed, swaps regulatory relief passed earlier by the full House was adopted, and sugar program reform was withdrawn.

 

 

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com

 

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