Frrom National Farm Bruaue on the 2016 omnibus approprations bill.

******** URGENT INFORMATION ******** ***P U B L I C P O L I C Y B U L L E T I N*** December 16, 2015 Omnibus Update TO: PRESIDENTS, SECRETARIES AND/OR ADMINISTRATORS, COORDINATORS OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DIRECTORS OF INFORMATION, DIRECTORS OF COMMODITY ACTIVITIES, COORDINATORS OF NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, FIELD SERVICE DIRECTORS, SCHAUMBURG AND WASHINGTON OFFICE DISTRIBUTION FR: DALE MOORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC POLICY CC: PRESIDENT STALLMAN JULIE ANNA POTTS, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ISSUE: The fiscal year (FY) 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill has been introduced in the House. The bill provides $1.149 trillion in funding and abides by the terms set by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Congress also introduced a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that will expire on Tuesday, Dec. 22. This new CR replaces the current CR, which expires today and provides Congress with enough time to debate and vote on the omnibus and tax bills. AFBF staff will continue to read through the bill and provide updates. IMPACT: Agriculture Appropriations: • The Agriculture Appropriations bill provides $21.75 billion in discretionary funding, which is $925 million above FY15 enacted level and $34 million below the president’s budget request. A summary of the agriculture section can be found here. • GMO Labeling – Not addressed in the bill. • Country of Origin Labeling – The provision repeals mandatory Country of Origin Labeling requirements for certain meat products. AFBF supports. • Dietary Guidelines – The provision ensures the guidelines are based on significant scientific agreement and are focused on nutritional and dietary information. The provision also requires a review of the process to ensure a balanced and scientific process in the future. AFBF supports. • Animal and Plant Health – The bill includes $894.4 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This includes $3 million for avian influenza assistance and $7.5 million for citrus greening disease. AFBF supports. • Horse Processing – The bill prohibits USDA inspection at horse processing facilities. AFBF opposes. • Agriculture in the Classroom – The bill provides $552,000 for the program. AFBF supports. • Conservation Programs – The bill provides $850.8 million for conservation programs and $12 million for the Watershed Rehabilitation Program. AFBF supports. • Broadband – The bill provides $36.8 billion for the Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program. AFBF supports. • International Food Programs – The bill provides $1.5 billion for the Food for Peace program and $201 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program. AFBF supports • Commodity Futures Trading Commission – The bill provides $250 million, of which $50 million is for the purchase of IT equipment. AFBF neutral. • Genetically Engineered Salmon – The bill prohibits the distribution of genetically engineered salmon until the FDA publishes final labeling guidelines. AFBF opposes. • Agricultural Research – The bill provides $2.94 billion for agriculture research programs, including the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. AFBF Supports • Food Safety and Inspection – The bill includes more than $1 billion for Food Safety and Inspection Service. This funding will maintain more than 8,000 frontline inspection personnel for meat, poultry, and egg products. AFBF supports. • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – The FDA receives a total of $2.72 billion in discretionary funding in the bill. Total funding for the FDA, including revenue from user fees, is $4.68 billion. AFBF support. • Emergency Watershed Protection Program – The bill provides $130 million for disaster funding to address damage caused by flooding and other natural disasters. AFBF neutral. Interior and Environment Appropriations: • The bill provides $32.159 billion in discretionary funding, which is $1.7 billion above the FY 2015 and $1.1 billion below the president’s request. A summary of the bill can be found here. • Waters of the United States – Not addressed in the bill. • Endangered Species – The bill prohibits funding for the Fish and Wildlife Service to issue further rules to place sage-grouse on the Endangered Species List. AFBF supports. • Greenhouse Gases – The bill provides exemptions from greenhouse gas regulations for livestock producers. AFBF supports. • Wildfire – The bill provides $4.2 billion for wildfire fighting and prevention programs. The bill also includes $360 million for the timber program. AFBF supports. • Payments in Lieu of Taxes – The bill provides $452 million for PILT, a program that funds local governments to help offset losses in property taxes due to nontaxable federal lands. AFBF supports. Also included in the omnibus bill is a provision that suspends the Health Insurance Tax. AFBF supports this provision. Contact: RJ Karney, 202-406-3669, ronaldk@fb.org