Appropriations Subcommittee Approves Fiscal Year 2020 Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA Funding Bill

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies today approved by voice vote its fiscal year 2020 bill. Total discretionary funding in the legislation is $24.310 billion, which is $1 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. The bill next heads to the full Committee for markup.

“We are proud that our first bill rejects the Administration’s drastic cuts and instead provides robust funding to assure that all Americans have access to safe, high quality, and low-cost food, medicine, and medical devices,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Chairman Sanford Bishop, Jr. “We increased funding for vital infrastructure in rural communities, including broadband, water and waste water, community facilities, and fund agricultural research that will keep American agriculture the best in the world.”

“The Fiscal Year 2020 Agriculture Appropriations bill rejects the President’s misguided budget and instead invests in important initiatives for the people.  The bill would reduce hunger at home and abroad, support rural development and our farmers, and ensure the FDA is properly funded to meet the growing needs of regulating our food, medicines, and more,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey. “We invest in nutrition and meal programs not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because the success of our economy demands it. I am particularly proud that the bill carries language urging FDA to expedite pre-market review of e-cigarettes, establish a national track and trace system on tobacco products, and expand The Real Cost advertising campaign to warn of dangers of nicotine addiction.” 

A summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill is here.

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