For Immediate Release:June 15, 2011
| House Meets At: |
First Vote Predicted: |
Last Vote Predicted: |
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10:00 a.m.: Morning Hour
12:00 p.m.: Legislative Business
Fifteen “One Minutes” per side |
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. |
5:30 p.m. |
Following last votes, the House is expected to recess to accommodate the Congressional White House Picnic. The House will reconvene following the event and continue debating H.R. 2112 into the evening.
Continue consideration of H.R. 2112 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Kingston – Appropriations) H.R. 2112 appropriates approximately $17.25 billion for the Agriculture Department, related agencies and programs. The funding level is 23% below the President's FY12 request, 14% below the enacted level for 2011 and is even below funding levels for 2008.
This bill includes harmful cuts to many programs, including devastating cuts to the WIC program. It also includes an approximately 21% cut to the Commodity Supplemental Food Program which serves predominantly low-income seniors. In addition to nutrition programs, the bill has substantial cuts to International Food aid, as well as the FDA. It also includes a large, dangerous cut to the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission).
In addition to many draconian cuts, the bill includes dangerous language relating to the FDA’s regulatory authority. The bill would change the standards which protect our food and medical products, requiring any agency to rely only on ‘hard science’ when regulating products. This would prohibit the consideration of consumer behavior and other valuable factors that are used when making regulations. This language has the potential to weaken regulations for tobacco and food products.
H.R. 2112 is a dangerous bill that furthers the Republican extremist ideological agenda, and hinders job growth.
As of last night, the House had completed reading through title I of the bill. The House is expected to begin reading title II today. There are 9 recorded votes pending:
- DeLauro Amendment. Relating to the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition within the FDA
- Sessions Amendment. Relating to FAIR Act and Circular A-76 activities
- Farr Amendment. Relating to the Agricultural Marketing Services
- Broun Amendment (#8). Relating to the reduction of the Agriculture buildings and facilities account
- Chaffetz Amendment. Relating to reductions in multiple accounts, including the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, the Agricultural Research Service, and Food For Peace Title II Grants
- Broun Amendment (#4). Relating to the reduction of the Economic Research Service account
- Clarke (MI) Relating to the Agricultural Marketing Services
- Broun Amendment (#9). Relating to the reduction of Agricultural Marketing Services
- Richardson Amendment. Relating to the Commodity Assistance Program
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK
The GOP Leadership has announced the following schedule for Thursday, June 16: The House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. The House is expected to continue consideration of H.R. 2112 – Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Kingston – Appropriations).
| The Daily Quote |
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Members of the House late Tuesday were mired in an ongoing rhetorical battle over the agriculture appropriations bill, as several Democrats took to the floor to argue against proposed cuts to the Women Infants and Children (WIC) food program…. [Democrats] appeared to be staging a mini-filibuster of the bill. Rather than propose an amendment, these members moved to "strike the last word," a parliamentary move that allows them to speak for five minutes without having to make an amendment proposal -- essentially allowing them to extend general debate.
- The Hill 6/14/11
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