WASHINGTON—The House of Representatives on Oct. 7 approved HR 2997—a $121 billion agriculture spending bill for the 2010 budget year—that will benefit nutrition, food stamp and dairy aid programs nationwide.
As reported by the Associated Press, the bill contains $23.3 billion for programs including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, agriculture research, food safety, rural housing assistance and conservation programs. The other 80 percent, almost $100 billion, is for food stamps and school nutrition programs. The bill also contains $350 million in aid for milk farmers, which includes $60 million to cover the federal purchase of surplus cheese and other dairy products that would go to food banks and other nutrition programs.
The bill goes before the Senate for a final vote before being sent to the president for his signature.