Farm, food aid, sports groups praise omnibus appropriations bill
January 14, 2014 | 06:32 PM
Key farm, food aid and sports groups began issuing statements today on the omnibus appropriations bill released Monday, which would fund the government through the end of the 2014 fiscal year on September 30.
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition said the completion of the omnibus “is a significant step toward returning to regular order and major accomplishment in the face of a very tight timeline.”
“We are particularly pleased that the agriculture portion of the omnibus builds upon successful investments in sustainable agriculture research, rural development, conservation, and credit programs,” Greg Fogel, NSAC senior policy specialist, said in an email.
“At $22.7 million, the omnibus provides the highest funding level ever for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which NSAC helped create in the late 1980s,” Fogel noted. “SARE is the only USDA competitive grant research program with a clear and consistent focus on sustainability and farmer-driven research.”
Fogel noted that the omnibus also increases funding for Value-Added Producer Grants, Direct Farm Operating Loans, the Business and Industry Loan Program and its Local and Regional Food Enterprise emphasis, and Conservation Operations, which funds Conservation Technical Assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The bill cuts mandatory farm bill funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by $400 million, but does not make changes in mandatory program spending to any other conservation programs, he noted.
Fogel said that “unfortunately” the bill includes the provision that stops the Agriculture Department’s Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration from implementing certain provisions of the 2008 farm bill regarding contracting, but he praised the appropriators for including report language supporting FDA’s decision to seek further comments on aspects of its proposed Food Safety Modernization Act regulations.
NSAC agrees with the assessment in the final conference report and will continue to push for rules that work for sustainable farmers and food businesses.
Rick Leach of World Food Program USA, a private group that supports the U.N. World Food Program and works on other international food aid issues, said he was pleased with the sections dealing with global hunger.
“The funds provided for Food for Peace and Disaster Assistance provide a balanced toolbox — through a mix of commodities and cash — that will help us address current food shortages around the world," Leach said. “The McGovern-Dole Food for Education funding plays an equally vital role in responding to the long-term needs of hungry children.”
But Leach warned that because the "escalating crisis in Syria, coupled with emerging humanitarian conflicts in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, threaten to put a serious strain on WFP’s resources, further U.S. support will be needed. The FY14 funding provided in this bill is a good start.”
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership also praised the move back toward a normal budget and appropriations process for the first time since 2010 as “a significant, positive achievement.”
“Yesterday’s release by Congress of an omnibus appropriations package represents a significant step toward returning to a normal budget and appropriations process, and provides federal agencies and their conservation partners a measure of funding certainty they have not experienced in some time,” the group said.
The expected passage of the wide-ranging legislative package, which includes an Interior, Environment and Related Agencies bill, would mark the first time since 2010 that Congress has completed the budget and appropriations process rather than relying on stop-gap continuing resolutions to fund the federal government. Sportsmen hailed this development as a significant, positive achievement.
“A lack of budgetary certainty can be extremely damaging to federal agencies’ effectiveness and efficiency,” said Steve Williams, president of the Wildlife Management Institute and former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Getting back to a more predictable budget and appropriations cycle recommits agencies to mission-critical conservation activities that benefit all Americans," the TRCP said in its news release.
The partnership said the following provisions are highlights of the bill:
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition said the completion of the omnibus “is a significant step toward returning to regular order and major accomplishment in the face of a very tight timeline.”
“We are particularly pleased that the agriculture portion of the omnibus builds upon successful investments in sustainable agriculture research, rural development, conservation, and credit programs,” Greg Fogel, NSAC senior policy specialist, said in an email.
“At $22.7 million, the omnibus provides the highest funding level ever for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which NSAC helped create in the late 1980s,” Fogel noted. “SARE is the only USDA competitive grant research program with a clear and consistent focus on sustainability and farmer-driven research.”
Fogel noted that the omnibus also increases funding for Value-Added Producer Grants, Direct Farm Operating Loans, the Business and Industry Loan Program and its Local and Regional Food Enterprise emphasis, and Conservation Operations, which funds Conservation Technical Assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The bill cuts mandatory farm bill funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program by $400 million, but does not make changes in mandatory program spending to any other conservation programs, he noted.
Fogel said that “unfortunately” the bill includes the provision that stops the Agriculture Department’s Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration from implementing certain provisions of the 2008 farm bill regarding contracting, but he praised the appropriators for including report language supporting FDA’s decision to seek further comments on aspects of its proposed Food Safety Modernization Act regulations.
NSAC agrees with the assessment in the final conference report and will continue to push for rules that work for sustainable farmers and food businesses.
Rick Leach of World Food Program USA, a private group that supports the U.N. World Food Program and works on other international food aid issues, said he was pleased with the sections dealing with global hunger.
“The funds provided for Food for Peace and Disaster Assistance provide a balanced toolbox — through a mix of commodities and cash — that will help us address current food shortages around the world," Leach said. “The McGovern-Dole Food for Education funding plays an equally vital role in responding to the long-term needs of hungry children.”
But Leach warned that because the "escalating crisis in Syria, coupled with emerging humanitarian conflicts in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, threaten to put a serious strain on WFP’s resources, further U.S. support will be needed. The FY14 funding provided in this bill is a good start.”
The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership also praised the move back toward a normal budget and appropriations process for the first time since 2010 as “a significant, positive achievement.”
“Yesterday’s release by Congress of an omnibus appropriations package represents a significant step toward returning to a normal budget and appropriations process, and provides federal agencies and their conservation partners a measure of funding certainty they have not experienced in some time,” the group said.
The expected passage of the wide-ranging legislative package, which includes an Interior, Environment and Related Agencies bill, would mark the first time since 2010 that Congress has completed the budget and appropriations process rather than relying on stop-gap continuing resolutions to fund the federal government. Sportsmen hailed this development as a significant, positive achievement.
“A lack of budgetary certainty can be extremely damaging to federal agencies’ effectiveness and efficiency,” said Steve Williams, president of the Wildlife Management Institute and former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Getting back to a more predictable budget and appropriations cycle recommits agencies to mission-critical conservation activities that benefit all Americans," the TRCP said in its news release.
The partnership said the following provisions are highlights of the bill:
- The North American Wetlands Conservation Fund received an increase of more than $500,000, bringing total funding up to $34.15 million.
- The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program also received an increase of more than $500,000, bringing total funding up to $58.7 million.
- The Land and Water Conservation Fund received about $300 million, a small increase over enacted.
- The National Wildlife Refuge System received a 4 percent increase in funding, bringing the total dollar amount from $454 million to $472 million.
- The Bureau of Land Management Wildlife Management Program received an influx of $15 million to help prevent an Endangered Species Act listing of the greater sage grouse.
