Source: US HOUSE AG COMMITTEE, 2/9/21
Today,
following the release of the Agriculture and Nutrition title of the FY2021
Budget Reconciliation bill, House Agriculture Committee David Scott of Georgia
made the following statement: “I am proud of the work that has gone into putting this critical bill together. In this current time of crisis for the American people, this language sees to it that we can provide assistance to our farmers, rural communities, and the most vulnerable among us. This bill is a stepping stone to the vision President Biden has
set forth to get our Country back on track. Each dollar included in this
legislation plays an invaluable role in doing just that. I am pleased to be a part of this effort to put our Black
farmers in a better position after suffering the impacts of this pandemic and
the inability to receive equal access to USDA programs over decades. This funding will also help to continue the vital food assistance through our SNAP Program as families face continuing uncertainty under this pandemic, while allowing the Secretary to assist our rural communities in helping their citizens access food assistance and health care, including access to COVID-19 vaccines, and shoring up our food supply chains.”
Notable
provisions in the package include:
- $1 Billion in
assistance to and support for community-based organizations and 1890 Land
Grant and other minority-serving institutions that work with Black farmers
and other farmers of color on land access, financial training, heirs
property issues, training the next generation and access to education
- Farm Loan
Assistance for Black farmers and other farmers of color
- Extending 15%
SNAP benefit increase through September 30, 2021
- $37 million to
the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to fill a gap that has grown as
food for this program has become scarcer during the pandemic
- $500 million
in Community Facility Program funds to help rural hospitals and local
communities broaden access to COVID-19 vaccines & food assistance
- $3.6 billion
for the Secretary of Agriculture to continue to help the food and ag
sector supply chains
- $100 million
in overtime fee relief to small meat and poultry processors currently
grappling with COVID-19-related backlogs
- $800 million
for the Food for Peace program, including for purchases of U.S.-grown
crops used in international humanitarian aid
The
entire text of the bill can be found here.
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