Ag Spending Bill & WRRDA Passes

Ag Spending Bill & WRRDA Passes

Ag Spending Bill & WRRDA Passes plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

An agricultural spending bill for fiscal year 2015 is one step further along in the legislative process in the House of Representatives. Representative Robert Aderholt says the bills' waiver for schools to opt out of the USDA nutrition program s important.

ADERHOLT: I continually hear from my schools in Alabama about the challenges and the costs their facing and their desperation for flexibility.

The bill provides a total of 20.575-billion dollars for agriculture, rural development, FDA and related agencies and 100-million dollars in disaster relief spending.

The House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Reform and Development Act onTuesday - which will authorize modernization of the locks and dams on the Mississippi River and harbor projects important to agriculture - by a vote of 412 to 4. American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman says WRRDA passage has been a priority issue for the American Farm Bureau Federation and says WRRDA will bring 6-billion dollars in total cost savings and important reforms to ensure the reliability and strength of the nation's inland waterways and ports.

Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray.

After what seems like forever the Water Resources Reform and Development Act has passed out of conference and now awaits final Congressional approval. And while the bill is considered inadequate by some, it will give the country's port infrastructure and inland waterway systems a firm and sustainable foundation to build and grow future economy, jobs and trade market competitiveness. The WRRDA of 2014 is being touted as "one of the most policy and reform focused measures of its kind in the last two decades". Highlights of the bill include the de-authorization of $18 billion of old, inactive projects that were authorized before the 2007 WRDA, the establishment of a new, transparent process for future bills to review and prioritize water resources development activities with strong Congressional oversight, expanding opportunities for non-federal interests to contribute funds to expedite studies, evaluations, permits and projects, and enhancing safety. Numerous groups, ag and non-ag, are hopeful of a quick passage of the bill, as H.R. 3080 seems to have something for everyone.

Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.

Previous ReportNo Water For Pot & Bison Industry Booming
Next ReportTainted Foods & Rural Broadband Service