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Courtesy Dana Youngentob,

Washington, DC— U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) worked with the House Appropriations Committee to approve the fiscal year 2023 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

For 2023, the bill provides funding of $27.2 billion– a critical increase of $2.075 billion, 8 percent– above 2022. In total, the bill includes $195 billion for both discretionary programs funded on an annual basis and mandatory programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The legislation:

Rebuilds our public health infrastructure and strengthens the safety of our baby formula market with increased funding to address maternal and infant nutrition, drug and device supply chain monitoring and surveillance. The bill also invests in our public health infrastructure by modernizing FDA’s data infrastructure to better ensure the safety and security of the food and medical supply chain.
Tackles hunger and nutrition insecurity by providing increased access to fruits and vegetables to 6.2 million people through WIC and ensuring 43.5 million people in SNAP-eligible families get the benefits they need. The bill also invests in the health of America’s kids through Child Nutrition programs, like school meals, which are now the healthiest source of food consumed in the United States, and includes provisions to address college hunger.

Grows opportunity and lifts rural communities with a critical increase for rural broadband, a new 1 percent loan program for water programs for rural areas, and a record investment of $1.5 billion in single family home loans.

Provides important investments to ensure equitable participation in USDA programs. The bill provides increases for extension, research, and capacity grants at our 1890 land grants, 1994 land grants, and Hispanic serving institutions to help strengthen the pipeline for the future of agriculture. It also provides increased funding to improve outreach and program access to historically underserved communities.
Provides $50 million for the frontline grocery workers for necessary expenses incurred during the ongoing public health emergency
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to consult with the FDA Commissioner on livestock gene editing regulations.

“Our country’s rural and agricultural communities are vital to the success of South Texas.

This bill expands and improves rural housing, broadband, healthcare, public safety, and water infrastructure. It makes historic investments in agricultural research to strengthen our nation’s agricultural productivity and sustainability.

It fully funds nutrition programs to care for our country’s most vulnerable – children and seniors – along with families struggling to put food on the table,” said Congressman Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.

“Through this bill, we are acknowledging the importance of our agriculture industry and rural communities and providing resources to ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of rural development. Thank you to Chairman Bishop for his steadfast support and commitment to rural communities.”

Congressman Cuellar’s amendment was also adopted by the full Committee:

Rep. Cuellar – This amendment adds new legislative language requesting a study on the working conditions for women farmworkers who are vulnerable to assault and sexual exploitation.

A summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. The bill report, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. In keeping with the Appropriations Committee’s commitment to transparency, information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.