The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies approved, by voice vote, the FY2003 agriculture appropriations bill (as-yet-unnumbered). The agriculture spending measure would allocate $74.3 billion, of which $17.6 billion would be discretionary spending.
The measure would provide $4.776 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a $428 million increase over last year and $25 million more than the President’s request. A reserve fund of $150 million also would be provided in the event that WIC costs or participation in the program exceed the funding levels.
Child nutrition programs would receive a $489 million increase over FY2002, bringing FY2003 funding to $10.576 billion and maintaining the President’s request.
In addition, the Food and Drug Administration would receive $1.385 billion, a $16 million increase over last year and $7 million more than the President’s request. The measure also would provide $1.2 billion for the Food for Peace program, a $350 million increase over last year and a $15 million increase over the President’s request.
