FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                   Contact: Elizabeth Morra

June 8, 1999*                                                                     (202) 226-5828

Bill Highlights:

• FY00 House-Passed Bill: $13.839 billion
• FY99 Funding Level: $13.692 billion
• FY00 President’s Request: $14.475 billion

• (Sanders): Cuts the Agriculture Research Service by $13 million and adds $10 million to the Commodity Assistance Program.
• (Kaptur): Gives the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to transfer up to $7 million from the Rural Housing Service and the Rural Housing Insurance Fund Account to Outreach for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers.
• (Sanders): Adds $3 million to the Rural Community Advancement Program and decreases by $3 million funds for Ocean Freight Differential.
• (Meek): After March 1, 2000, prohibits funds for the importation of meat or poultry products from any foreign country whose health and safety standards are not equivalent to U.S. standards.
• (Traficant): Sense of the Congress requiring that any government entity receiving funds from this Act should only purchase American-made equipment and products.
• (Coburn): Cuts the Office of the Chief Information Officer by $500,000.
• (Coburn): Prohibits funds from being used by the Food and Drug Administration for the testing, development, or approval (including approval of production, manufacturing, or distribution) of any drug for the chemical inducement of abortion.
• (Young): Cuts $102.5 million from four accounts at the USDA and FDA, including the Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (Integrated Activities); Agricultural Research Service (Buildings and Facilities); Rural Housing Service (Administrative Expenses), and the Food and Drug Administration (Salaries and Expenses).

• Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses are increased by $80.3 million (over last year) to continue delivery of the farm ownership, farm operating, and disaster loan programs. Total funding is $794.8 million, which is the same as the President’s request.
• Total loan authorization levels for agricultural credit programs are increased by $723.8 million over last year [excluding supplementals for FY 99]. Total loan authorization funding is $3.009 billion, which is the same as the President’s request.
• Rural Housing loan authorizations are increased by $581 million (over last year), including $572 million for single family housing. Total loan authorization funding is $4.8 billion, which is $257.6 above the President’s request.
• Rental assistance programs are restored to the FY 99 level of $577.5 million, an increase of $143.4 million over the President’s request. (more)
• The Rural Electric and Telephone loans are restored to the FY 99 levels, which are $141.5 million above the President’s request.
• The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program loan authorization is increased by $50 million over last year, bringing FY00 funding to $200 million, which is the same as the President’s request.
• Agricultural Research activities are increased by $38 million over last year. Total funding is $1.643 billion, which is $37.2 million below the President’s request.
• Conservation Operations activities are increased by $13 million over FY99, bringing FY00 funding to $654 million, which is $26 million below the President’s request.

• The Food Safety Inspection Service is increased by $36 million over FY99, for a total of $653 million, the same as the President’s request.
• The Food and Drug Administration is funded at $1.198 billion, which is $95 million
• more than FY99, but $57 million below the President’s request.
• Funding for the tobacco program within FDA is funded at $34 million in FY00, the same as FY98 and FY99. The Committee recommends deferring consideration of the budget request to double the appropriation for FDA’s tobacco activities, pending the Supreme Court’s review of FDA’s authorities.

• The Child Nutrition Programs are funded at $9.547 billion, an increase of $370 million over FY99 and $18 million below the President’s request.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is funded at $4 billion, an increase of $81 million over FY99 and $100 million below the President’s request.
• The Food Stamp Program (mandatory) is funded at $21.577 billion, a decrease of $1 billion below FY99, reflecting decreased participation due to the improved economy and lower unemployment.
• The Food for Peace Program (P.L. 480) is funded at $1.1 billion, an increase of $114 million over the President’s request and $30 million below FY99.