(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today announced that his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations has approved another funding measure among the twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022).
This bill would provide $27.2 billion for the FY 2023 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill includes $1.7 billion for agriculture research, including pest control and specialty crop health.
The measure funds federal efforts to tackle hunger and nutrition insecurity, grow opportunities and uplift rural communities, confront the climate crisis and advance world-leading agriculture research and development. The funding level is $27.2 billion, an increase of $2.1 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level.
“I focused in my Appropriations Committee on supporting our local farmers, farmers markets and food promotion programs, which combined will help our Hawai‘i deal the soaring cost of food, much of which is imported to our islands,” said Case.
Specific programs and provisions requested and secured by Case in the Agriculture bill include:
- $35 million for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections program, which focuses in preventing introduction of invasive species to Hawai‘i.
- $5 million for coffee research to address the threats of Coffee Leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Borer on our iconic coffee industry
- $1.7 million for research on the macadamia felted coccid.
- $10 million for the Micro-Grants for Food Security program, which provides direct farming assistance to Hawaii’s subsistence and small commercial farmers.
- $7.4 million for Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, which helps address food insecurity with fresh produce and supports local farms.
- $5 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, the first increase for this vital program in years. This program addresses the educational needs of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines and prepares low-income students for careers related to the food, agricultural and natural resources.
The measure also:
- Recognizes that the prevention of agricultural infestations of pests and diseases is much more cost effective than subsequent control or eradication, including pre-departure and interline inspections.
- Directs the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to coordinate federal research to address the impact of the avocado lace bug, spittle bug and the Queensland longhorn beetle.
- Directs the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production to create funding opportunities through the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to develop or improve farmers’ markets and their ability to access local community markets.
- Directs to U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, which provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets and roadside stands, so the program can serve more eligible low-income seniors.
- Recognizes the importance of outreach and assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers programs. The Committee requests the Secretary to identify any barriers to access the program and make recommendations for improvements.
- Encourages the ARS to continue research on Tropical and Subtropical crops. The Committee notes this research is critical as the presence of and destruction by invasive pests such as fruit flies, coffee berry borer, felted macadamia nut coccid, and plant viruses and funguses increase and threaten crop security in the Pacific and insular areas
“Coming on the heels of the recently approved passage in the U.S. House earlier this month of the landmark Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, this funding measure will also boost efforts to help Hawai‘i deal with invasive species which, unfortunately, has been recognized as the invasive species capital of the world,” said Case.
Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills.
The bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
A summary of the agriculture funding bill is here.
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