The Conference Report on the Fiscal Year 2006 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act...
THE CONFERENCE REPORT ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2006 AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT (H.R. 2744) -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 15, 2005)
SPEECH OF
HON. BETTY MCCOLLUM
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2005
Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Conference Report on the fiscal year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Act. While this bill takes some positive steps, overall it is a missed opportunity.
This bill provides increased funding for critical food assistance programs, including Women, Infants and Children, WIC, and school lunch. The conference report also upholds current adjunctive eligibility requirements for WIC and Medicaid. This will save local WIC agencies in six states, including Minnesota, from having to conduct 275,000 duplicative eligibility determinations and keep resources devoted to nutrition assistance.
Voluntary conservation programs that I support, such as the Conservation Reserve Program, CRP, and the Wetlands Reserve Program, WRP, receive $840 million in funding. For generations, farmers and others working close to the land have made positive contributions to the conservation effort. Programs like CRP and WRP assist landowners in reducing erosion, improving soil and water quality, and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat.
Funding for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, is increased to address food safety and emerging diseases, namely avian influenza. Prompt action is needed to safeguard against further spread of this deadly strain and to be prepared for a potential outbreak at home or abroad.
Despite these positive aspects, Congress missed an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of families by failing to provide relief for the millions of Americans facing soaring prescription drug prices. I supported language passed by the House of Representatives to allow reimportation of prescription drugs. Unfortunately, this language--which would have barred the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, from preventing prescription drug reimportation--was stripped in conference committee for a third year in a row. It is unacceptable for anyone to suffer because prescription drugs have become too expensive, and it is disappointing that once again Congress has prioritized pharmaceutical companies over families.
This bill also imposes further delays upon implementation of mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling, COOL, requirements. COOL provides our families with important information on meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. It also gives U.S. producers credit for the considerable investment they make in the quality and safety of their products. The 2002 Farm Bill required mandatory labeling by 2004. but the fiscal year 2004 Agriculture Appropriations Act delayed implementation of COOL to 2006. This conference report further delays implementation of COOL until 2008.
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