Political Quotes

“I am pleased to present for the Senate's consideration today S. 1033, the fiscal year 1998 Agriculture, rural development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies appropriations bill. This bill provides fiscal year 1998 funding for all programs and activities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with the exception of the Forest Service, the Food and Drug Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and expenses and payments of the farm credit system. As reported, the bill recommends total new budget authority for fiscal year 1998 of $50.7 billion. This is $3.2 billion less than the fiscal year 1997 enacted level, and $1.6 billion less than the President's fiscal year 1998 budget request. Reductions in mandatory funding requirements account for the overall decrease below the fiscal year 1997 enacted level, principally reflecting lower Food Stamp and Child Nutrition Program costs due to the enactment of welfare reform. Even with these reductions, $38 billion, or approximately 75 percent of the total $50.7 billion recommended by this bill, will go to funding the Nation's domestic food assistance programs in fiscal year 1998.”