07/09/2015

House Appropriations Committee Approves Ag Bill

The House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2016 Agriculture Appropriations bill by voice vote on Wednesday. The proposed legislation funds important agricultural and food programs and services, including food and medical product safety, animal and plant health programs, rural development and farm services, marketplace oversight, and nutrition programs. The $144 billion bill is $1.1 billion below the President’s budget request.

"This bill puts resources to work in areas that not only help farmers, ranchers, and growers everywhere, but also supports rural economic development and infrastructure,” said Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL). The committee rejected two amendments that were perceived to potentially harm crop insurance by reducing premium subsidies based on a farmers’ adjusted gross income and requiring the release of farmers’ personal premium related data.

ICBA sent the subcommittee and full committee a letter recently advocating for adequate funding for USDA guaranteed farm loan and rural development programs including the Business and Industry (B&I) program.