Just yesterday, as the Appropriations Committee considered the Defense Appropriations Act, I warned that the majority's path would lead to severe cuts being borne by bills funding critical domestic priorities. Today - as we consider a bill cut 6.2% from last year's level - that prediction is proving accurate.
I would like to thank Chairman Aderholt, Ranking Member Farr, and Chairman Rogers.
The chairman may have tried to produce a reasonable bill, but the inadequate allocation has resulted in an unacceptable bill, funded at $19.4 billion, or 6.2% less than the comparable FY13 level. This process began with a completely unrealistic starting point as a result of the Ryan Budget. Subcommittee allocations created winners and losers.
Just yesterday, as the Appropriations Committee considered the Defense Appropriations Act, I warned that the majority's path would lead to severe cuts being borne by bills funding critical domestic priorities. Today - as we consider a bill cut 6.2% from last year's level - that prediction is proving accurate.
This bill is the first the committee has considered with an unnecessarily low allocation, but it will not be the last if we consider all 12.
Indeed, the Majority has given with one hand to the first three bills and taken away with the other on the remaining nine. This bill alone cuts:
• More than 200,000 mothers and infants from WIC unless set-asides and contingency funding are utilized;
• $120 million below the Administration's request to implement critical financial services reforms; and
• Food for 8 million vulnerable people around the world; and
• Continues to inadequately fund the FDA, preventing the full implementation of vital food safety modernizations that protect consumers from foodborne outbreaks like the recent case of tainted organic blueberries infecting people with hepatitis A.
It is with deep regret that I am forced to oppose this bill, which includes several positive aspects. It fully funds the Commodity Supplemental Food program and contains fewer controversial riders than recent AG bills. In particular, the Chairman is applauded for not including the so-called "Monsanto" rider in this year's bill. The bad simply far outweighs the good in this bill.
The Administration has warned of vetoes on House appropriations bills that are not passed in the context of a bicameral, bipartisan budget agreement. I urge my Republican colleagues to go to conference and come to an agreement on a budget resolution that reflects the spending caps in the Budget Control Act and turns off sequestration so that we have an opportunity to pass a bipartisan Agriculture bill.
We are in the early stages of the appropriations process, and I hope that we can all work together to enact reasonable FY 2014 spending bills.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
