On May 19, 2016, the Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously approved a $147.7 billion appropriations bill to support federal agriculture and nutrition programs in FY2017. Among other things, the bill would grant: (i) $2.54 billion to support agricultural research, including $375 million for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative; (ii) $1.518 billion to the Farm Service Agency for various farm, conservation, and emergency loan programs; (iii) $1.033 billion to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, supporting more than 8,000 frontline inspection personnel for meat, poultry, and egg products at more than 6,400 U.S. facilities; (iv)$2.759 billion in discretionary funding to FDA, including a $40.2 million increase for food safety activities; and (v) more than $100 billion for food and nutrition programs. The bill is now available for consideration before the full Senate.
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