Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 8294. As chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I am pleased to highlight the national priorities funded in our division.

The impact of the agriculture division is far-reaching and it touches the lives of every single American. We all eat the food, rely on the medicine and the medical devices, and wear products made from fibers, such as cotton, that are made possible by this bill.

Our fiscal year 2023 allocation is $27.2 billion, which is $2 billion over the fiscal year 2022 bill. The bill provides $4.2 billion for Rural Development initiatives, including more than $560 million for broadband expansion to provide economic development opportunities and improved education and healthcare services. The bill continues important funding for the Community Facilities Program that supports everything from libraries and fire stations to childcare centers and nursing homes.

Our bill fully funds the SNAP, WIC, and Child Nutrition programs. It continues to enhance fruit and vegetable benefits for women and children and provides additional protections for SNAP recipients. We have record-high funding for the Food for Peace program, $1.8 billion, and $265 million for the McGovern-Dole program, critically needed in light of the global food crisis that has worsened following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The bill provides $3.8 billion for agriculture research, which helps the United States produce the most abundant and affordable food in the world, and provides $3.1 billion in farm and conservation programs, which includes funding to address the impacts of climate change.

The Food and Drug Administration is funded at $3.6 billion in discretionary funding. There are important increases to help combat the opioid crisis, support unannounced inspections of foreign drug manufacturing facilities, and ensure the safety of infant formula.

Finally, the bill provides funding for 134 Community Project Funding requests for members, totaling over $191 million.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank the ranking member, Dr. Harris, and his staff for helping produce this bill. I thank my personal staff and the subcommittee staff for their extraordinary work on the bill. Of course, I thank Chairwoman DeLauro and Ranking Member Granger, as well as the majority and minority staffs of the full committee.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the en bloc. Mr. Hern's amendment in this en bloc would cut discretionary programs in the agriculture bill by 22 percent. Mr. Norman's would cut them by 5 percent. Either level will have devastating and counterproductive consequences across numerous programs.

This would mean cutting rural development initiatives. The 22 percent cut would reduce much-needed investments in rural broadband, electricity, water and waste systems, and housing at a time when we really, really want to lift our rural communities.

It would mean cutting our investment in farm and conservation programs, agriculture research, Food for Peace grants, and the McGovern-Dole program.

The Food and Drug Administration budget would be cut by over $800 million under Mr. Hern's proposal, lessening our ability to address the opioid crisis, medical supply chain issues, infant formula, and food safety.

I ask my colleagues to join me in opposition to these amendments.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of this bipartisan en bloc. These amendments addressing the Agriculture division of the package were made in order by the rule, and they have been agreed to by both sides.

This was a truly collaborative process between both sides of the aisle, and I believe this bipartisan effort will definitely improve the bill.

I thank the sponsors for their efforts and highlight a few of the issues that are covered by these amendments: encouraging innovation in USDA research programs, protecting victims of trafficking, and increasing funding for the farm-to-school program and the Circuit Rider Program.

Mr. Chair, I support the amendment and urge its adoption. It improves the bill.

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

These amendments en bloc address the Agriculture division of this package that were made in order by the rule. I believe they will improve the bill also.

In particular, the amendments will increase the funding for the school breakfast expansion program and further advance the needs of Puerto Rico and the other territories, all of which participate in the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program. Representative Velazquez' amendment draws attention to Puerto Rico's nutrition needs, where about 1.5 million residents receive nutrition assistance.

The amendments highlight other important issues, such as rural energy efficiency and the need to build our infant formula manufacturing base in this country.

Mr. Chair, I support the amendment, and I urge its adoption.

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