WASHINGTON ‑ Today, the Senate and House conference committee approved the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Senator Kohl worked to include $3.421 billion in additional funding and guidance for international food aid and domestic nutrition programs. Kohl is the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.   

"Everyone should have adequate food and nutrition," Kohl said. "This appropriations bill will help people, both nationally and internationally, gain access to affordable and safe food."              

Domestically, the bill includes funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC is funded at $7.252 billion, which is an increase of nearly $400 million above the FY 2009 non-emergency appropriation.              

Other provisions specifically tailored for Wisconsin include:  

$950,000 for Nutrition Enhancement - These funds would be used in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to provide grants and educational support for local schools wishing to initiate and expand school breakfast. Wisconsin has among the lowest school breakfast participation rates in the nation.   

Supper Pilot Program - This legislative modification would add Wisconsin to a list of states eligible under a pilot program to provide expanded supper benefits under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to children ages 13 to 18.  CACFP provides meals and snacks to about 3 million children nationwide per day.  According to the Hunger Task Force, the waiver for Wisconsin will result in supper for 18,000 kids during the upcoming year.              

Internationally, the bill includes funding for the Food for Peace title II program and the McGovern-Dole Food for Education Program. Together, these programs are funded at roughly $1.9 billion, which is an increase of $574 million above the FY 2009 funding levels, not counting supplemental appropriations bills.              

The bill also includes $13 million for USDA to help develop sustainable food systems in countries with chronic food shortages.  

Funds are also directed toward development of new food aid products to provide higher nutritional content to food aid recipients.  

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