Chair Heinrich Remarks on Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA Appropriations Bill at Markup

Hearing

"Thank you Chair Murray. I'm pleased to present the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. I want to thank you and Ranking Member Collins for your work to get us here as we begin the appropriations process in the Senate. I also want to thank Ranking Member Hoeven for the good working relationship we have built and for his input into the bill. Our partnership made this a truly bipartisan bill.

"The bill before us supports American farmers and ranchers, protects our food supply, increases market transparency, and promotes the health and well-being of the youngest and most vulnerable Americans by reducing poverty and food insecurity.

"I'm especially pleased that we were able to fully fund the WIC program. WIC is one of our most effective programs in reducing childhood hunger and improving the long-term success of children and their families. It provides nutritious foods and important services during our children's earliest, critical periods of development. This bill will ensure the over 6 million women, infants, and children who depend on WIC will receive this vital benefit.

"As the appropriations process unfolds I am committed to monitoring participation and food costs so that we can provide enough funding to make sure that all eligible families who seek help from WIC can be served and receive the program's current science-based food benefits.

"Hunger knows no boundaries. For a whole host of reasons--from climate change to major international conflicts--we are experiencing an unprecedented global hunger crisis. This is why I'm pleased we are maintaining America's moral leadership by providing full funding for the Food for Peace program and McGovern-Dole program.

"Around the country right now, we have fallen behind in terms of producing housing for Americans across the income spectrum. In rural communities, including in my home state of New Mexico, we are seeing home prices and rents that we have never experienced. That's why it is so important that this bill protects the housing programs within USDA and ensures that Americans in rural communities who qualify will receive the housing assistance they need.

"The Food and Drug Administration receives a $20 million increase in this bill. We must ensure this agency continues to protect the safety and reliability of our nation's food systems and medicines.

"We had to make tough decisions under an austere topline number. But I believe we have written a good bill that protects many of our priorities and continues our strong support for rural communities.

"There are many other areas in this bill that I am proud of, but for now, I want to again thank Ranking Member Hoeven and his staff; Morgan Ulmer, Patrick Carroll, and Dallas Selle. I also want to thank my staff: Dianne Nellor, Rachel Erlebacher, and Hannah Chauvin. They worked in a bipartisan manner under a short timeline and I thank them for their good work.

"This is a good, bipartisan bill. It reflects the type of work we can produce when we work in regular order on this committee. I encourage all members to vote for it."

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