Funding for agriculture and food safety programs for fiscal year 2015 moved forward this week after both the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees approved their respective proposals by voice vote. The House discretionary spending totals $20.9 billion; the Senate would allocate $20.6 billion.
Included in the House subcommittee bill is language that will prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from proceeding with the final rule on the Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Act (GIPSA). In the 2008 Farm Bill, Congress had instructed GIPSA to look at five areas of contracting and GIPSA’s proposed rule went far beyond congressional intent. The language in the House subcommittee bill will correct GIPSA’s proposed rule.
The language included in the bill is as follows:
None of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to write, prepare, or publish a final rule or an interim final rule in furtherance of, or otherwise to implement or enforce the proposed rule entitled ‘‘Implementation of Regulations Required Under Title XI, of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008; Conduct in Violation of the Act’’ published by the Department of Agriculture in the Federal Register on June 22, 2010 unless the combined annual cost to the economy of such rules does not exceed $100,000,000: Provided, That none of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to publish a final or interim final rule in furtherance of, or otherwise to implement, sections 201.2(l), 201.2(t), 201.2(u), 201.3(c), 201.210, 201.211, 201.213, or 201.214, as proposed to be added to title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, by such proposed rule: Provided further, That none of the funds made available by this or any other Act may be used to implement, enforce, or to take regulatory action other than rescission or repeal based on, or in furtherance of, 201.2(o), 201.3(a), or 201.215(a), of title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act), or to write, prepare, or publish a final or interim final rule in furtherance of, or otherwise to implement, the definitions or criteria specified in such.Provided further, That the Secretary of Agriculture shall, within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, rescind sections 201.2(o), 201.3(a), and 201.215(a), of title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on such date).
Other bill highlights include:
- Agricultural Research Service (ARS): The bill provides $2.65 billion for agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. This is approximately equal to the fiscal year 2014 enacted funding level. This funding will support research to help improve food safety and water quality.
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS): The legislation provides $870.7 million–$45.8 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level–for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
- Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS): The legislation includes $1 billion for food safety and inspection programs–approximately the same as the 2014 enacted level. These were no new user fees in the measure. FSIS provides inspections for the country’s $186 billion meat and poultry industries by maintaining more than 8,000 frontline inspection personnel for meat, poultry, and egg products at more than 6,400 facilities across the country.
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): Included in the bill is $218 million for the CFTC, an increase of approximately $3 million above the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $62 million below the President’s budget request. The increase is targeted to necessary information technology improvements.
The House Appropriations full Committee will meet Thursday, May 29 to markup the subcommittee measure. The Senate Appropriations full committee approved the subcommittee bill yesterday and the bill is scheduled to go to the floor in early June. Senate Appropriations Chairwoman, Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) announced this week that her goal is to have the markups of all 12 spending bills completed by July 10.
