Roy Blunt: “I am pleased to join Senator Kohl in supporting this bill, the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill for Agriculture…”

“I am pleased to join Senator Kohl in supporting this bill, the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bill for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies. I am glad we are considering appropriations bills on the Senate floor in a manner that will allow us to fully debate amendments. In addition to funding the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, the bill we bring to the floor today also includes the fiscal year 2012 bills introduced by other committees, as Senator Kohl has already specified; by the Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. For now, I will limit my comments just to the agriculture provisions and, of course, defer to my colleagues, Senator Hutchison and Senator Collins, on the provisions that relate to the other two bills. Activities funded by the Agriculture bill touch the lives of every American every day. These activities include agricultural research, conservation activities, housing and business loan programs for rural communities, domestic and international nutrition programs, and food and drug safety. Funding for each of these deserves thorough and thoughtful consideration. Senator Kohl and I have made some difficult decisions in drafting this bill.…”