Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (D-Ala.) announced today that the Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year 2005 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, which provides $16.77 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its programs.  Congressman Cramer is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

"This is a good bill for North Alabama's farmers," said Cramer.  "Our farmers make up a large part of our economy in North Alabama and this bill goes a long way in supporting their needs."

The FY 2005 Agriculture Appropriations Bill includes $1.457 billion for the Food and Drug Administration, $825 million for food safety and inspection service, and increased funding for the detection and prevention of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow Disease.

Also included in the FY 2005 Agriculture Appropriations Bill are programs supporting farmers, ranchers, and rural America.  The bill provides $3.818 billion for the Agricultural Credit Program, $1.259 billion for the Agriculture Research Service, $663 million for the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP), $4.631 billion for the Rural Housing Insurance Fund (RHIF), and $4.84 billion for the Rural Electrification and Telecommunications Loan Program.

In addition, there are numerous state projects that benefit our farmers, including $625,000 for Precision Agriculture at the Tennessee Valley Research center in Belle Mina.

The bill also funds numerous food and nutrition programs, providing $11.38 billion for Child Nutrition Programs, $33.6 billion for the food stamp program, $4.9 billion for special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC).

The FY 2005 Agriculture Appropriations Bill now goes to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.