Aderholt Questions Secretary Vilsack on USDA Budget Request

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Congressman Robert Aderholt - Alabama District 4 (R)

Congressman Robert Aderholt – Alabama District 4 (R)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack; Dr. Joe Glauber, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Economist; and Mike Young USDA’s Budget Director testified before the Subcommittee about the Administration’s $137.5 billion total request for fiscal year 2014.

“Keeping American agriculture safe and competitive is no easy task and with that in mind this Subcommittee has worked to ensure the Department has adequate resources to successfully complete that task,” said Aderholt. “The Administration claims its $18 billion discretionary request for fiscal year 2014 is $109 million below fiscal year 2013 enacted levels; however, there are concerns that once again the Administration is relying on creative accounting and budget gimmicks to find such ‘savings’.”

“The reality is the Department’s request includes $1.3 billion in spending increases that are largely offset by a proposal to move $1.4 billion from the Food for Peace program under USDA’s jurisdiction to international development assistance programs under State and Foreign Operations jurisdiction,” continued Aderholt.

 

 

 

 

Tom Vilsack - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Tom Vilsack – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

“Against the backdrop of a very poor economy, agriculture exports continue to be a bright spot in our nation’s trade balance. U.S. agriculture exports have exceeded $478 billion over the past four years and they are on track to set a new record this year. However, this is the second year in a row we have not seen any new efforts, initiatives or plans by USDA to do more for agricultural exports. As we look for avenues for cost savings and programs that promote growth, I think the Department is missing a major investment opportunity when it comes to agriculture exports,” added Aderholt.

“I greatly appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s testimony before the Agriculture Subcommittee today; however, there are still a lot of unanswered questions and I am disappointed the Administration once again provided us with an unrealistic budget that is paid for by $1.1 trillion in new taxes, never balances and as some would say is essentially dead on arrival,” concluded Aderholt.

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