The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee budget discussed Wednesday does not align with the budget proposal for agriculture by President Donald Trump. The bill totals $20 billion in discretionary funding, which is $876 million lower than the fiscal year 2017 enacted level and $4.64 billion above the president’s budget request, according to the Hagstrom Report. The bill allows for a total of $144.9 billion in both discretionary and mandatory funding, that’s $4.6 billion above the president’s request and $8.5 billion below the fiscal year 2017 level. In releasing the bill this week, the Committee said it “focuses funding on programs that bolster U.S. agriculture, support rural communities, maintain and promote food and drug safety, and provide nutrition for those in need.” The bill provides for $73.6 billion in required mandatory spending for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is outside the discretionary funding jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committee for SNAP. That level is $4.87 billion below last year’s level and $2.6 million below the President’s budget request.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.