June 16, 1999

The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee has approved a fiscal 2000 $60.7 billion appropriations bill for USDA. The bill provides $3.1 billion in authorized loan levels for agricultural credit programs for farmers, $75 million more than the Clinton Administration requested. The bill also includes $808 million for various conservation programs.

As in the House version, approved last week by the full chamber, no major new farm assistance sought by some Democrats was included. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) offered an amendment to include some $6.5 billion in additional farmer assistance in the appropriations package.

Harkin's effort, however, failed on a party-line vote. Republicans have said they prefer to wait until the crop year progresses further to see just how deeply in the throes of income hardship farmers are later in the year. Subcommittee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS), in unusually pointed comments, noted that the Clinton Administration has submitted no request for additional funds, despite report language in the recent supplemental appropriation bill that called for such a request.

The Senate bill, which the full appropriations committee will consider on Thursday, includes an increase of $35.3 million over 1999 funding levels for agriculture research and extension programs. The Agricultural Research Service would get $810.5 million and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service $930.5 million.

Rural housing loan programs were appropriated $4.6 billion, $129.6 million more than the administration requested, and rural economic and community development programs would get $728 million for loans and grants for rural water and sewer facilities.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service would be funded at $638.4 million, an increase of $24 million over 1999.