In at 217 to 203 vote on Thursday, the U.S. House voted to pass their version of the FY 2012 Agricultural Appropriations Bill. Technically called the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, the bill is numbered H.R. 2112.
The bill was passed with a provision that cuts any further spending into changes to the proposed Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s market competition rule.
Also of keen interest for ag producers, the bill was passed with an amendment from Virginia Representative Jim Moran that continues to defund federal inspections for horse processing. According to the Animal Law Coalition, Wyoming Representative Cynthia Lummis had offered up an amendment during Thursday’s debate that would have struck the prohibition of such fees. The group reports that Lummis later withdrew the amendment.
An amendment from Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg was included in the bill. It states that it is “An amendment to prohibit funds to the FDA for rule-making activities or guidance unless the Secretary of Agriculture bases decisions on “hard science” and determines that the benefit of the rule or guidance justifies the action.”
After the hours of debate, the bill includes $125.5 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding. This is a reduction of more than $7 billion from the President’s request. For more on this bill including the text of the legislation, CLICK HERE.
© Northern Ag Network 2011
Haylie Shipp
