More on Senate Appropriations

July 25, 2000

When the Senate approved the agricultural appropriations bill late Thursday, $450 million was included for crop loss assistance for farmers plus $893 million in emergency assistance for livestock and dairy producers. Total appropriations are $75.7 billion for fiscal 2001. A Senate-House conference committee now will work out the differences in the two spending measures.

A breakdown of the bill by Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), chairman of the agricultural appropriations subcommittee, showed the Senate included $867.6 million for conservation programs of USDA, an increase of $63.4 million over fiscal 2000. The bill authorizes the enrollment of another 100,000 acres in the Wetlands Reserve Program and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to access other funds to continue the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program.

An increase of $60.4 million was included over 2000 for agricultural research, education and extension. The Agricultural Research Service will receive $871.6 million, and the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service is funded at $964.8 million. Another $3.1 billion was approved for agricultural credit programs for farmers.

For rural housing, the bill provides $4.56 billion in loans and $680 million for rural housing rental assistance. Rural economic and community development programs will receive $644.4 million for loans and grants for rural water and sewer facilities.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service is funded at $678 million, an increase of $28.9 million over fiscal 2000, and another $30 million is provided for food safety activities of the Food and Drug Administration over 2000.

For federal nutrition assistance, the Senate approved $35 billion for the school breakfast and lunch programs, food stamps and the women, infants and children’s program.