Washington Update - October 2002
October 2002
In This Issue:
• 2003 Appropriations Still on Hold
• Drought Relief Controversy Threatens TEFAP Bonus
2003 Appropriations Still on Hold
Congress recessed last week for a month without finishing most appropriations for fiscal year 2003, which began October 1. The Bush Administration and Congress have been unable to agree on a budget outline and spending priorities. Of the 13 spending bills required to fund government programs, Congress passed only two – for Defense and military construction – before leaving town to campaign for the November 5 elections. A Continuing Resolution (CR) was adopted to maintain federal operations until November 22. Congress will reconvene for a lame duck session on November 12, and appropriations measures will be high on the agenda.
The funding logjam means TEFAP will be held at fiscal year 2002 levels at least until December, with just $50 million available for storage and processing (formerly administration) and $100 million available for food purchases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) may have to delay buying entitlement commodities until final fiscal year funding has been determined. Because of the budget and appropriations impasse, the likelihood of a funding increase for storage/processing in 2003 is diminishing.
Drought Relief Controversy Threatens TEFAP Bonus
Extremely dry or adverse weather this year has affected crops and livestock in 1,830 counties – 58 percent of all counties in the nation, according to USDA. The Senate has passed a drought relief bill as an emergency measure, allowing funds to be allocated without affecting other programs. However, the Bush Administration and the House insist that any drought relief measure must be offset by reduced spending in other agriculture programs.
Consequently, USDA has tapped nearly $1 billion in funds from other authorized programs – including money from Section 32 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Act, which supports purchases for child nutrition and emergency food assistance programs – to provide a limited degree of drought assistance,. At least $100 million in Section 32 funds normally used to buy surplus commodities for TEFAP and school lunch programs has been diverted.
The USDA actions have infuriated Senate Democrats. “I am angered that the Administration has chosen to take food out of the mouths of hungry children and rob the nation’s food banks in order to fund this national disaster,” said Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, chair of the Agriculture Committee earlier this month. “Finally and of grave concern,” Harkin added, “I am very concerned that the Administration will be hurting … The Emergency Food Assistance Program that relies on surplus commodities to supply soup kitchens and food banks.”
“We disagree with Mr. Harkin’s assertion,” replied a USDA spokeswoman. “We are confident the funds will be available for nutrition feeding programs.”
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WASHINGTON UPDATE is published for the TEFAP Alliance by Weinberg & Vauthier Consulting, 419 West Broad Street, Suite 204, Falls Church, VA 22046; telephone: (703) 532-5700; fax: (703) 532-5780; email: zyweinberg@earthlink.net.
mvauthier :: Oct.17.2002 :: Washington Update :: No Comments »:: Print This Post
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