A House Appropriations panel voted unanimously to keep two U.S. food aid programs in operation, albeit with less money, rather than eliminate them as proposed by President Trump. As part of its USDA–FDA funding bill for the new fiscal year, the subcommittee also rejected most of Trump’s plan to terminate rural water, housing, and business development programs.
Where Trump wanted to slash USDA discretionary spending by $4.7 billion, or 21 percent, from this year’s levels, the subcommittee overseeing the USDA, FDA, and related agencies approved a much smaller reduction of $876 million for fiscal 2018. The next step for the bill is consideration before the full Appropriations Committee, expected during July.
“This bill is not in full agreement with some of the budget proposals to defund parts of the rural development mission area or food aid programs,” said subcommittee chairman Robert Aderholt, a Republican who represents a rural Alabama district. “We continue to help others around the world who face starvation and malnutrition. … This bill includes critical funding for rural development.”
Subcommittee members agreed on $1.4 billion for the Food for Peace program, which donates U.S.-grown food to alleviate hunger and encourage local food production overseas, and $185 million for the McGovern–Dole program to provide one meal a day for schoolchildren in developing nations. By comparison, Food for Peace was given $1.71 billion for this fiscal year and McGovern–Dole received $201 million.
“I hope that we will be able to work to increase funding for both as we go through this process,” said Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop, the Democratic leader on the panel during discussion of the bill. In a gesture of unity, Aderholt and Bishop stood side by side while responding to questions from reporters after the subcommittee meeting.
Trump called for the elimination of Food for Peace as part of a broad reduction in U.S. foreign aid. Under his plan, food aid would be one of many tools the State Department could use to respond to natural disasters and emergencies overseas. The White House said it would cut funding by one-fourth for international disaster assistance and called on “other donors, including nontraditional donors, to increase funding for humanitarian assistance and lessen the burden on the United States to respond.”
Some $2.9 billion is allotted in the bill for rural economic development. Aderholt said funding was included for water, housing, and business assistance programs that had been targeted by the White House.
“Acknowledging a shared responsibility to find savings, this bill was thoughtfully crafted, providing needed resources that will continue to support rural America,” said Aderholt. “This bill reflects my commitment to that—only five accounts in the bill received an increase over last year, while the majority received significant reductions.” Bishop and Maine Democrat Chellie Pingree said the funding bill ignored most of Trump’s proposals.
The USDA–FDA bill totaled $144.9 billion when mandatory spending was included. It is silent on Trump proposals for large cuts in food stamps and crop insurance, programs that are in the bailiwick of the Agriculture Committee. It also steered clear of arguments over the humane treatment of organic livestock and fair-play rules in livestock marketing, though it contains familiar provisions limiting USDA control of the whole grain and salt content of school meals.
An Appropriations Committee description of the bill is available here.
For the text of the USDA–FDA appropriations bill, click here.