Political Quotes

“I am very happy to join with Senator McConnell... to permit the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer up to $2 million of additional funding to the WIC Farmers' Market Program upon consultation with the Appropriations Committees of the other body and of the Senate. This program was funded up to $6.75 million in this year's appropriations bill. We greatly appreciate that the appropriations committees were able to provide that funding. We are advised by the Department of Agriculture that because of the way the language is technically worded that USDA cannot reprogram additional funds into that WIC Farmers' Market Program. As it turns out some states need additional funding as my colleague Senator McConnell points out in his floor statement and that a few States need funding to set up a WIC Farmers' Market Program. We recognize that we will need the support of all Senators to pass this bill at this stage. This bill does not mandate the spending of additional funds, it simply permits USDA to transfer up to $2 million to this program if the Secretary determines that such transfer is a good idea.”