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House leader critical of USDA budget cuts

The Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for agriculture and rural development continues to criticize the proposed cuts to the Trump Administration’s USDA budget. Democrat Sanford Bishop says, “The Administration has put forth a budget that appears to be grossly inadequate, as it has every year during its time in office.”

Bishop told Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue Tuesday during a hearing that disasters, trade uncertainty, and increasing farm debt have led to increased stress in the agriculture community, and he opposes the Administration’s proposed 18% budget cut. “I continue to believe that many of the proposals in the budget are bad for our farmers, bad for our rural communities, bad for our vulnerable populations, and quite honestly should be dead on arrival.”

Bishop and Vice-Chair Rosa DeLauro also sent Perdue a letter this week urging USDA to take steps to ensure food security during the coronavirus outbreak, including waiving congregate meal requirements for serving free and reduced-price lunches where schools are closed.  Perdue told Bishop USDA will waive that requirement when asked.