P. Scott Shearer, Vice President

June 11, 2012

1 Min Read
House Fiscal Year 2013 Agriculture Appropriations

The House of Representatives Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee passed its $140.7 billion (mandatory and discretionary funding) fiscal year 2013 agriculture appropriations bill. The legislation includes $19.4 billion in discretionary funding, which is $365 million below last year’s level and $1.7 billion below the administration’s request.

Highlights of the bill include:

  • Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) – Provides $996 million for food safety and inspection programs, which is equal to the administration’s request and $9 million below last year.

  • Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Provides $787 million for APHIS, $33 million below last year’s level.

  • Conservation – Provides $812 million for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a decrease of $16 million from last year.

  • Research – Provides $2.5 billion for agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, a reduction of $35 million from last year.

  • Trade Promotion – Fully funds the trade promotion programs of the Foreign Market Development program at $34.5 million and the Market Access Program at $200 million.

  • Rural Development – Provides $2.1 billion for rural development programs, a reduction of $180 million from last year.

  • Food and Nutrition – The legislation provides $6.9 billion in discretionary funding for the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program, which is $305 million above last year. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamp program, receives $80 billion in mandatory funding, $408 million below last year’s level.

  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – FDA receives $2.5 billion in discretionary funding, a reduction of $16.3 million.

The bill will be considered by the House Appropriations Committee sometime the week of June 19.

About the Author(s)

P. Scott Shearer

Vice President, Bockorny Group, Inc.

Scott Shearer is vice president of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm in Washington, D.C. With more than 30 years experience in government and corporate relations in state and national arenas, he is recognized as a leader in agricultural trade issues, having served as co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority. Scott was instrumental in the passage of China Permanent Normal Trade Relations and TPA. He is past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products and was a member of the USAID Food Security Advisory Committee. Prior to joining the Bockorny Group, Scott served as director of national relations for Farmland Industries Inc., as well as USDA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs (1993-96), serving as liaison for the Secretary of Agriculture and the USDA to Congress.

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