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| House Passes Agriculture Appropriations Bill |
May 24, 2006 |
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Includes Commodity Food Program, NM Water Resources & Drought Management Provisions
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson supported the Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Act (H.R. 5384), passed 378-46 by the House late Wednesday, that restores a commodity food program and includes water resource management provisions for New Mexico.
At Wilson’s request, the bill restores $118.3 million nationally, an increase of $11 million, for a commodity food program that helps 16,000 seniors, women and children in New Mexico each year.
“This program reaches people who are unlikely to use food stamps, in particular the elderly,” Wilson said.
Also at Wilson’s request, it includes $410,000 for digital orthophotography with digital color infrared imagery for the state of New Mexico to help manage water resources during drought conditions. The state, experiencing drought conditions and facing a potential under-delivery of water to Texas, will benefit from accurate and sophisticated administrative tools to manage the state’s water resources.
“The acquisition of digital color infrared imagery will help the State Engineer effectively measure and manage our water,” Wilson said.
Digital color infrared imagery will assist the Office of the State Engineer (OSE) in determining the extent of irrigated acreage, checking for irrigation occurring on lands without water rights, reviewing water right applications, and supporting the hydrographic surveys necessary to adjudicating water rights. The (OSE) manages water resources to provide for economic growth, through the use of data and models to increase knowledge of the ground and surface waters. Accurate measuring of water depletion is essential to managing water for New Mexico.
Additionally, the bill includes $1,675,000 for efficient irrigation in New Mexico and Texas. Research areas will address irrigation district studies, legal and institutional barriers to efficient water use, and urban landscape and in-home water conservation.
The legislation also has $450,000 for the New Mexico Syndromic Validation to support early detection of pathogens in animals and prevent their spread. Timely response to disease outbreaks reduces animal suffering and protects public health and food, as well as the economy. The program collects data from practicing veterinarians that can provide an early warning of emerging animal diseases, then broadcasts this information so that the response to emerging disease outbreaks, such as Avian Flu, can be effective.
Nationally, the bill provides $18.4 billion in total discretionary resources. It supports our nation’s farmers and ranchers and provides for important nutrition programs and public health research, such as Avian Flu Pandemic countermeasures.
“Agriculture is an important part of New Mexico’s economy,” Wilson said. “We need to continue to strengthen and support our agricultural sector. That starts with good management of our most precious resource, our water.”
Other highlights:
$853 million for the Food Safety and Inspection Service – $24 million above last year and $96 million above the president’s request.
$1.5 billion for the Food and Drug Administration – $54 million above last year.
$13.3 billion for Child Nutrition Programs – $685 million above last year.
$5.244 billion for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – $40 million above last year and $44 million above the president’s request.
$700 million for the Rural Community Advancement Program (RCAP) – $5 million above last year and $99 million above the president’s request.
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