Bill maintains record-level potato research funding
The House and Senate last week released the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill text, providing $26.3 billion in discretionary funding across the agencies.
The bill maintains record-level funding for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Potato Research Special Grants, which was first secured in the FY23 appropriations process. The bill also includes language that prevents USDA from limiting potato access to the school breakfast program, as well as ARS funding and waiver provisions that make the Specialty Crop Research Initiative more accessible for public institutions.
“This is an outstanding outcome for the potato industry. Thanks to everyone who made these a priority during their Hill visits at the Washington Summit and throughout the year,” said Dean Gibson, NPC VP of Legislative Affairs.
The House voted 339-85 on March 6 to pass the first package of final FY24 appropriations bills, which included the Ag-FDA funding bill. The package was passed by the Senate on March 8 and signed into law by the President on March 9, averting a government shutdown.
