WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2014 – USDA and FDA would receive a combined increase of $350 million in FY 2014 as part of a $1 trillion omnibus appropriations package that would fund 12 federal departments.
The bill, released late Monday, would provide $20.9 billion in discretionary funding which is a $350 million increase over FY 2013 levels. The bill would provide funding for all USDA agencies.
Several agencies would receive slight increases, or maintained FY 2013 levels. For instance, Rural Development would receive $2.4 billion for a $180 million increase.
The current continuing resolution is set to expire Wednesday and lawmakers are expected to approve a short-term extension at FY 2013 levels for a few days to make time for consideration of the larger, long-term bill.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky., and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., lauded the spending agreement.
“We are pleased to have come to a fair, bipartisan agreement on funding the government for 2014,” they said in a joint statement. “Although our differences were many and our deadline short, we were able to a draft a solid piece of legislation that meets the guidelines of the Ryan-Murray deal, keeps the government open, and eliminates the uncertainty and economic instability of stop-gap governing.”
The bill also would provide $404 million to help complete construction of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to replace the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. The facility is expected to conduct research in developing countermeasures for animal, human, and zoonotic diseases. Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kan., worked with House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to secure the funding, which was part of the recent budget agreement.
Updated 12:00 p.m. 1/14/14
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