SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES FOOD FUNDING

The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced a bill to fund the USDA and FDA for the next fiscal year.  The bill contains $20.5 billion in discretionary funding, including WIC.  The total is  $65 million less than the current level and $1.1 billion less than President Obama requested. The bulk of the measure contains $123.3 billion in mandatory funding, including funds for SNAP. The committee’s bill included an amendment that would relax school lunch rules on whole grain products and sodium.

Source: The Hill, 7/16/15, Senate Action