Wisconsin Ag Connection - Obey: Ag Spending Bill Sets 'Positive Vision' for Rural America

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Obey: Ag Spending Bill Sets 'Positive Vision' for Rural America
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 06/24/2008

Wisconsin Congressman Dave Obey is calling the 2008-09 annual USDA spending bill a step in the right direction. The Wausau Democrat announced that the House Appropriation Committee, which he chairs, is set to consider the measure this week.

"This bill creates a positive vision for rural America," Obey said. "It's the first big step in what will be a long process to secure vitally important investments in rural infrastructure, child nutrition, food safety, conservation, research and regulation of commodity markets."

Obey noted that while the bill has a long way to go in the legislative process, it is a 'bold statement of congressional priorities.'

"We have a $400 billion backlog in sewer and water needs and many small rural communities simply lack the tax base to upgrade their wastewater and drinking water systems," Obey said. "Access to high speed communications is vital to rural communities, yet the Bush budget proposed to eliminate the only program at USDA that helps bring high speed internet service to rural areas. Food costs are up sharply, yet the Bush budget eliminated important nutrition programs and pushes costs onto states who are already suffering a budget crunch due to the economic slowdown."

Among its many provisions, Obey noted that the bill:

** Implements country of origin labeling so Americans know where their food is coming from and maintains a prohibition on the importation of chicken from China, where birds have been found to be so loaded with steroids that if Olympic athletes ate them they would be disqualified from competition;

** Strengthens animal identification, where Wisconsin leads the nation, and toughens requirements for school nutrition programs to ensure that suppliers are complying with animal ID;

** Restores more than $600 million to rural development programs, including rural business loans and grants, public safety facilities, and rural electrification and telecommunication programs;

** Provides additional resources for research, surveillance and management to combat growing threats to food and fiber production including Mad Cow Disease, Chronic Wasting Disease, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Emerald Ash Borer, avian flu, and Johnes' Disease;

** Provides important investments in organic agriculture, fruit and vegetable crops, sustainable agriculture and conservation;

** Toughens oversight of energy and commodity futures trading.

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