Conference Report Highlights
October 7, 1997
H.R. 2160 -- Agriculture, Rural Development, and
Related Agencies Appropriation Bill, 1998
The House passed the conference report last night by a vote of 399-18.
Funding Totals
Conference total for FY 1998 is $49.75 billion ($4.14 billion less than FY97, $964.1
million less than the Senate-passed bill, and $146.1 million more than the House-passed bill).
Discretionary spending for FY98 totals $13.75 billion.
Agricultural and Rural Development Programs
- Funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service is set at $789 million ($19
million over last year, but about $32 million less than requested). Of this amount,
funding for conservation operations is set at just over $633 million ($13 million more
than the FY97 level).
- $188.6 million is provided for crop insurance sales commissions.
- Rural Community Advancement Program is funded at $652.2 million, which is $7.9
million more than the Senate bill level.
- Rural housing loans are increased $760 million over FY97, for a total of $4.2 billion in
loan authorizations for FY98.
- Agriculture research, education and extension service programs are funded at $1.7 billion,
$15.3 million below the FY97 level.
- The Farm Service Agency is funded at $703.2 million, a reduction of $45.3 million below
FY97 levels.
- Farm operating and ownership loan levels are funded at $2.855 billion, $140 million less
than the FY97 level.
- Food for Peace (P.L. 480 program) is funded at a total program level of $1.1 billion (same
as the Senate bill).
- The Food Safety Inspection Service is increased $15.3 million over FY97, bringing FY98
funding to $589.3 million.
Food and Nutrition Programs
- Total funding of $7.769 billion is provided for child nutrition programs and $25.140
billion is provided for the food stamp program.
- The WIC (Women, Infants and Children) feeding program is increased $118.2 million
over last year, for a total of $3.9 billion for FY98.
- The Commodity Assistance Program is funded at $141 million.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Total funding for FDA is increased to $925.1 million, $37.5 million over FY97.
- Within FDA, funding for the tobacco initiative to curb youth smoking has been boosted
to $34 million, the level requested by the President.
- The new food safety initiative to protect the safety of the nation's food supply is funded at
the requested level of $24 million.
- Prescription Drug User Fees of up to $91.2 million may be collected.