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House Ag Appropriations bill blocks line speed waivers

The 2021 House Ag Appropriations bill is moving forward and allocates nearly $24 Billion dollars to fund the USDA and FDA, two-percent above the current fiscal year.

The measure would increase funding for rural development and broadband expansion. It would stop the USDA from granting line-speed waivers at meat processing facilities during the pandemic. It would block the final SNAP rule on Able-Bodied Adults without dependents.

Ranking member Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska hailed the provisions in the bill for food banks and broadband expansion.

Congresswoman Rosa De Lauro of Connecticut praised the needed funds for the SNAP food stamp program, WIC, and Child Nutrition programs with the blocking of rules that would threaten benefits for hundreds of thousands of people. She says food stamp spending is “a powerful anti-recession tool.”

The House Appropriations Committee is expected to mark up the bill Thursday.