Smith Opposes Costly Spending Bill, Calls For Reasonable Trade Policies

Press Release

Smith Opposes Costly Spending Bill, Calls for Reasonable Trade Policies

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today voted against H.R. 2997, the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, citing dangerously high spending and a provision which could lead to the closing of a major agriculture market. The measure passed 266 to 160.

H.R. 2997 spends $123.8 billion, half of which is dedicated to expanding existing entitlement programs such as the food stamp program. Discretionary spending in the bill totals $22.9 billion, which is 12 percent more than last year's spending.

"This level of spending - the vast majority of which won't even go to farmers and ranchers - is unsustainable in light of our growing deficits and debt. During a time when many American families are struggling to make ends meet, we need to get Washington spending in line," Smith said. "It is shameful to replace useful investments in agriculture with reckless spending."

Over the last two fiscal years, Congress has increased non-defense, non-veterans discretionary spending by 85 percent.

Smith also registered his concerns with a provision which could cost American agriculture producers millions and threatens all exported agriculture products. This provision continues a ban on the importation of poultry from China without allowing U.S. inspectors to conduct a safety assessment. In response to the inclusion of this provision, China has already signaled the intent to block imports of U.S. poultry for the remainder of 2009, costing producers a projected $370 million.

Moreover, this provision is preventing the U.S. from negotiating agreements concerning U.S. beef imports to China, and is blocking the restoration of pork exports to China.

"Time and time again we've seen when American products compete - we win. To blindly pass a provision which could cost our farmers and ranchers millions flies in the face of what we should be doing with this bill and threatens all of agriculture," Smith said.

Earlier in the debate, Smith voted for an amendment which would direct the USDA to conduct a study on the potential benefits of pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and Korea for American farmers and ranchers - and the lost opportunities if Congress does not consider them. The amendment passed by a vote of 404 to 27.

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