Dale Bumpers: “when Senator Cochran and I reported the fiscal year 1999 appropriations bill for agriculture, rural development and…”

“when Senator Cochran and I reported the fiscal year 1999 appropriations bill for agriculture, rural development and related agencies to the Senate earlier this year, our recommendation included maintaining the studies and evaluations activities for USDA's food programs with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). This recommendation was consistent with the President's budget request. The studies and evaluations activities are important for a number of reasons. These activities enable better program management of the several domestic feeding programs administered through USDA. We should remember that USDA's nutrition programs comprise the lions' share of the USDA budget and are often all that stands between many of our people and abject hunger. Because of the long-term health implications associated with a healthy, nutritious diet, it is absolutely vital that program administrators have access to relevant and updated information regarding nutrition and program delivery.”