Appropriations Subcommittee Approves Fiscal Year 2021 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 2021 bill. Total discretionary funding in the legislation is $23.98 billion, an increase of $487 million above the FY 2020 enacted level.

The bill next heads to the full Committee for markup.

“Once again, our bill rejects the Administration’s drastic cuts and instead builds on the four COVID-19 supplemental bills Congress passed this spring by providing funding increases for our rural communities, vulnerable populations, and essential workers,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Chairman Sanford Bishop, Jr. “Our bill blocks two unconscionable SNAP rules designed to restrict program eligibility during a pandemic that has made it even harder for American families to put food on the table. Our bill increases broadband funding to ensure everyone is connected to the economy and increases funding for agricultural research to keep American agriculture the best in the world.”

“The coronavirus pandemic has made it abundantly clear that we must do more to address America’s food security crisis and to strengthen struggling rural communities that are now reeling from the pandemic and the ensuing recession,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey. “While the Trump administration’s budget would gut critical investments in vulnerable populations and rural communities at a time of great need and uncertainty, our fiscal year 2021 bill provides strong funding and protections to help put nutritious food on people’s tables and increases investments in broadband to connect more Americans to work, school, health care, and friends and family. The bill will reduce disparities made worse by the pandemic and will help bolster communities through and beyond the crisis.”

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

###