Agricultural Funding Measure Approved
US - The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture unanimously approved the FY 2009 funding measure for the Department of Agriculture, The Food and Drug Administration, and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.The measure provides more than $20.6 billion in total discretionary spending, an increase over FY 2008 funding and the President’s request by $2.5 billion and $1.8 billion respectfully.
The measure includes $18.4 billion in funds for USDA. The following are items included in the USDA portion of the bill.
- Limiting language prohibiting the establishment or implementation of a rule allowing poultry products to be imported into the U.S. for the People’s Republic of China.
- $953.9 million for the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)
- $14.5 million for the National Animal Identification System.
- $9.8 million for the implementation of country of origin labeling (COOL).