Wisconsin Ag Connection - Kohl Lauds Boost Boost for Food, Flood Aid in Disaster Bill

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Kohl Lauds Boost Boost for Food, Flood Aid in Disaster Bill
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 06/20/2008

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded the House version of the Emergency Supplemental spending bill unveiled Thursday for including funding boosts for his priorities, such as international food aid, the Food and Drug Administration, and flood and disaster assistance. Negotiations between members of the House and Senate yielded the latest version of the legislation that has the funding for areas Senator Kohl has identified as needing immediate federal resources.

"I am greatly encouraged that the House unveiled a Supplemental that does not overlook the need to provide immediate boosts to address the global hunger crisis, ensure food and drug safety, and provide much-needed relief to the areas of our nation affected by devastating floods," Kohl said.

The legislation includes $1.2 billion for food aid and $150 million in additional funds for the FDA. Of the total amount directed to food aid, $850 million would be added for this fiscal year to 'Food for Peace,' the nation's foremost global hunger program. Though the FDA funding falls short of the $275 million boost Senator Kohl originally secured in the Senate version of the Supplemental, he remains optimistic that this increase is a step in the right direction.

"Without this funding for food assistance, we lose an opportunity to avert a widespread humanitarian disaster that can further erode stability throughout the world," Kohl said. "While this funding for the FDA may not address all the shortfalls, it is still a sizable increase offering hope that this critical boost to protect our nation's food and drug supply will be included in the final version of the Supplemental."

In response to the storm-related flooding that has hit states throughout the Midwest hard, the legislation also includes $1.2 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide disaster relief for affected regions and resources to support $267 million in Small Business Administration loans to home and business owners. In addition, the measure provides $390 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program and $89 million for the Emergency Conservation Program.

The ECP program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters.

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