Senate Panel Seeks More Funds on Nutrition
WASHINGTON -- A Senate panel wrote an agriculture spending bill Tuesday that would devote $4.64 billion to a nutrition program that feeds low-income women, preschool children, and infants -- $51 million more than a spending bill by the House.
Overall, the proposal by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on agriculture is similar to the House bill. It would give $17 billion to the Agriculture Department and to the Food and Drug Administration for next year's budget, but would be $872 million less than this year's budget.
Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah and chairman of the subcommittee, said Congress is under pressure to cut spending because of a growing deficit.
In addition, the panel is proposing to spend $784 million on the department's Food Safety and Inspection Service, which is charged with inspecting meat at packing plants and at the borders. That's $1 million less than the House proposal, and $29 million more than this year's budget.
A program that pays for improvements to rural electric and telecommunications lines would get $5.6 billion -- an increase of $143 million from this year. It's also more than the $4.7 billion that the House bill would provide.
The panel's plan will go before the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
Overall, the proposal by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on agriculture is similar to the House bill. It would give $17 billion to the Agriculture Department and to the Food and Drug Administration for next year's budget, but would be $872 million less than this year's budget.
Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah and chairman of the subcommittee, said Congress is under pressure to cut spending because of a growing deficit.
In addition, the panel is proposing to spend $784 million on the department's Food Safety and Inspection Service, which is charged with inspecting meat at packing plants and at the borders. That's $1 million less than the House proposal, and $29 million more than this year's budget.
A program that pays for improvements to rural electric and telecommunications lines would get $5.6 billion -- an increase of $143 million from this year. It's also more than the $4.7 billion that the House bill would provide.
The panel's plan will go before the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
