House Appropriations Ag Spending Bill Rejects Many Trump Proposals

The House Appropriations Committee 2020 Agriculture spending bill rejects many of the cuts proposed by President Trump.  Representative Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat who chairs the full Appropriations Committee, says the bill “rejects the President’s misguided budget and instead invests in important initiatives for the people.”  Subcommittee Chair Sanford Bishop, a Democrat from Georgia, says the bill “invests in America’s fundamental needs and rejects the Administration’s radical cuts.”

The bill allocates $24 billion, 4% above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level, and more than $5.1 billion above the budget request.  The bill provides nearly $4 billion for rural development, $1.8 billion in farm programs, $3.3 billion for agricultural research, and fully funds SNAP.

For the Food and Drug Administration, the bill provides $3.2 billion in discretionary funding, which is $185 million above fiscal year 2019. The bill reported out of committee in a vote of 29 to 21 and now awaits further consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives.

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