Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 12/10/18

House and Senate appropriators writing a final Agriculture-FDA measure still have several issues on their to-do list, months after conference negotiations kicked off in September.

Expiration date: Funding for USDA, FDA and many other agencies runs dry after Dec. 21. Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said Thursday he was still working with House appropriators "to nail down a few things." Potentially among them are:
— Whether the spending bill will address a joint USDA-FDA framework for regulating cell-based meats.

The two agencies agreed last month to split regulatory jurisdiction over different phases of cell-based protein production. Hoeven, who has supported giving USDA authority over the budding sector, sounded positive about the arrangement because it gives the department control over labeling and "everything outside the lab," as he put it.

"That's a strong position on behalf of our ranchers," Hoeven told POLITICO, adding that appropriators were still discussing the issue "to make sure we have it fully resolved" and to ensure it "works well for our livestock producers."

— ERS/NIFA relocations: Critics of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue's plans to move the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture outside of the D.C. area have pushed for language in the spending bill that would slow down the relocation process while Congress conducts additional oversight.

If no such provision is included, opponents have raised the possibility of a senator placing an informal "hold" on one of several high-level USDA nominees that the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced last week to exert pressure on Perdue.

FWIW: Senate Ag ranking member Debbie Stabenow told POLITICO she wasn't aware of any holds on the nominees yet.