Print
Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
Published: 19 September 2019 19 September 2019

Bill also includes Udall provisions to continue ban on horse slaughter for human consumption & protect children from ‘lunch shaming’ over school lunch bills

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall joined the Senate Appropriations Committee in unanimously advancing an Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration funding bill that makes critical investments in agriculture, nutrition and research programs to support New Mexico families and rural communities. The bill sets the Fiscal Year 2020 budgets for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and now heads to the full Senate.

"In New Mexico – farming and ranching are a way of life – with deep roots in our culture and heritage. Agriculture is also a key economic engine for our communities, and I was pleased to support this bipartisan bill after ensuring critical resources for our farmers and ranchers and rural communities would be protected,” said Udall, a member of the Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee. “This bill gives support to a range of New Mexico’s farming communities – including acequias, land grants, veterans, beginning farmers, and those that may be socially disadvantaged — ensuring access to critical federal assistance so that farming can continue for future generations. And it provides an increase in funding for agricultural research, to bolster the first-class innovation happening in our state. I'm also very pleased that this bill contains my amendment to continue the ban on commercial horse slaughter for human consumption in the United States and directs USDA to better protect children from the cruel practice of ‘lunch shaming’ over school lunch bills.”

Highlights of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies funding bill include:

Horse Slaughter Defunding Amendment. The bill included Udall’s amendment that prohibits the USDA from using any funds that support horse slaughter for human consumption.

Lunch Shaming. The bill included Udall’s language that directs USDA to provide guidance to lunch program operators. This guidance would include approaches that protect children from embarrassment, encourage lunch fee communications with parents and guardians instead of children, and encourage schools to provide for efficient enrollment in free and reduced-price meal programs.

Acequias and Land Grants. The bill included Udall’s report language that highlights the provision included in last year’s Farm Bill and directs USDA to provide interim guidance quickly and in a manner that covers irrigation and efficiency infrastructure.

Broadband on Tribal Lands. The bill included a provision that highlights the lack of federal funding for Tribal broadband projects, directs USDA to provide data on the number of proposed projects, and echoes the GAO’s request for a list of regulatory barriers that impede tribes from obtaining funding. 

PFAS. The bill included Udall’s report language to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to use an existing program for dairy indemnity to purchase cattle contaminated by PFAS chemicals.  Udall is fighting for dairy farmers in Clovis, New Mexico, where the USDA is currently paying for dumped milk each month.

Other Highlights:

Agriculture Research: The bill includes $1.4 billion for agriculture research, $121 million more than FY 2019.  Every one dollar invested in agricultural research yields a return of $20 to the economy. The bill also includes $937 million for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, an increase of $10 million from FY 2019.

Conservation. The bill includes $835 million for Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation operations, which funds helps soil and water conservation, environmental restoration, and drought resilience.

Beginning farmers and ranchers, assistance for socially disadvantaged veteran farmers and ranchers. Provides a total of $33 million, rejecting the administration’s proposal to eliminate these important programs that provide assistance to some of our farmers that continue to make farming a way of life, despite their sometimes limited resources.

Rural Development:

Nutrition: