The U.S. Department of Agriculture thinks the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill will allow it to carry on vital work for the country.
According to a Dec. 23 news release, this funding package will offer support to USDA's initiatives to be more efficient, effective and better equipped to advance racial justice, equity and opportunity.
“As we wrap up a successful year advancing USDA’s priorities to build more, new and better markets for producers, tackle food and nutrition insecurity and ensure wealth is created and stays in rural communities, I’m pleased that Congress has come together to pass the Omnibus bill that delivers some resources crucial to continuing our work on behalf of the American people,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release.
The bill has since gone to President Joe Biden for final approval, the release reported.
The allocations in the Omnibus bill means that important investments for rural America will not be derailed, according to the release.
“With increases in agricultural research and investments in Rural Development, this administration will continue to prioritize economic development and growth in rural America and put producers at the heart of solutions to climate change, including through our Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, infrastructure and fairer, more resilient food systems,” Vilsack said in the release.
He also thanked Congress for recognizing the importance of the programs the USDA is carrying out, the release reported.
“I also want to thank the Senate for taking action on nominees crucial to USDA's mission, including Alexis Taylor, under secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs; Jose Emilio Esteban, Ph.D. as under secretary for Food Safety and Doug McKalip, who is departing USDA, but will serve in a crucial role as the chief agricultural negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative," Vilsack said in the release. "USDA is ready to hit the ground running in 2023 to keep expanding our economy from the bottom up and middle out and ensure that rural communities, farmers, ranchers and producers are empowered with the tools necessary to thrive."
