Ranking Member Bishop Floor Remarks on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024

WASHINGTON — Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Ranking Member of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024:

- As Prepared For Delivery -

Mr. Speaker, while this is not the bill I would have put forward, it is a bipartisan compromise that will keep the government open and working for the American people.

The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, the FDA, and Related Agencies bill affects the lives of every single American, every single day and ensures that Americans have access to abundant, safe, and affordable food, fiber, medicine, and medical devices.

This bill takes care of our families, helps prevent hunger, fully funding SNAP as well as WIC.

This bill is free from almost all the extreme policy riders in the previous versions of this bill.

It rejects limitations on Americans’ healthcare and reproductive freedom as well as attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training.

It protects the Ag Secretary’s authority to use the CCC and blocks cuts to distressed Farm Service Agency borrowers, to help the farmers who feed our country.

It rejects gutting rural electric co-ops and the REAP program which helps rural businesses save on energy costs and help make rural energy grids more sustainable and resilient.

It protects small meat and poultry producers and promotes industry competition to reduce the cost of food.

The bill makes crucial investments in housing rental assistance as well as the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

While the bill is not the best, it brings us closer than earlier versions to meeting the essential needs of the American people. I want to commend President Biden, the bipartisan leadership and staff of the House and Senate and the Appropriations committees. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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