FY2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill Gets Committee Approval

Press Release

The Senate Committee on Appropriations today approved its eleventh FY2016 funding bill, giving bipartisan support to a $148.3 billion agricultural and rural development measure that also invests in food safety, public health and nutrition programs.

The committee approved the FY2016 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill on a bipartisan 28-2 vote. With this bill, the Senate now has an opportunity to debate 11 of the 12 appropriations bills required of Congress annually. This measure supports U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agriculture, rural communities and cooperative conservation programs. It invests in food and drug safety, and provides essential nutrition assistance for children, families and seniors.

The Senate bill contains $143.8 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding, $24 billion below the President's budget request and $3.7 billion below the FY2015 enacted level. The discretionary funding portion of the bill totals $20.51 billion, $65 million below the FY2015 enacted level. Required mandatory spending in the bill, which is outside the discretionary funding jurisdiction of the Senate Appropriations Committee, totals $123.3 billion.

"The purview of this bill includes many important programs that directly influence U.S. agriculture, public health and the quality of life in rural America. The bill adheres to our budget constraints, yet funds federal initiatives to improve agriculture production and research and to support rural economies," said Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). "I thank Senators Moran and Merkley for their hard work to prepare this bill for Senate consideration and hope that all Senators will have the opportunity to debate on and advocate for programs important to their constituents."

"The investments made in this bill reaffirm our commitment to advancing production agriculture and public health innovations, and provide our rural communities with the ability to compete -- both here and abroad," said U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee. "Through a balanced approach to fiscal responsibility and continued investment in rural America, we are prioritizing agriculture research and extension activities, promoting rural development efforts, supporting food safety and public health initiatives, and encouraging the development of new medicines and medical devices. Additionally, we are reining in the Obama administration's regulatory overreach by limiting the scope of the dietary guidelines and delaying the implementation of overly broad menu labeling rules."

Source