Coalition Asks Lawmakers to Fund Export Promotion Programs

The Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports urges congressional appropriators to continue mandatory funding for Market Access and Foreign Market Development programs. The Coalition also asked the Senate agriculture committee to include a provision that would double the dollars for those programs in the next Farm Bill.

In letters sent to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House agriculture appropriations subcommittees, the Coalition asked that the MAP get at least $200 million and FMD receive a minimum of $34.5 million in fiscal 2024. The Coalition also called on House and Senate Agriculture Committee leaders to include the Expanding Agricultural Exports Act of 2023 in the 2023 farm bill.

The legislation would double the annual funding for MAP and FMD over the five years of the new Farm Bill. The Coalition says the outlook for agricultural trade is "uncertain due to continuing supply chain disruptions, surging international competition and the absence of new, near-term trade agreements."

The group includes more than 120 agricultural organizations.

Source: NAFB