House turns away controversial agriculture defunding amendments

After the votes ended at about 5 p.m., the House was expected to adjourn shortly for a picnic at the White House and was expected to return at about 8 p.m. to resume work on the agriculture appropriations bill, H.R. 2112.

Accepted amendments:

Sam Farr (D-Calif.); transfer $300,000 from the Agriculture Buildings and Facilities fund to Agriculture Marketing Services; approved in 352-70 vote

Pete Sessions (R-Texas); strike language that prohibits private competition on commercial activities in the Agriculture Department; approved in 226-199 vote

Rejected amendments:

Paul Broun (R-Ga.); cut $21 million in Building and Rental Payment Accounts; failed in 120-304 vote

Broun; cut $7 million from USDA’s Economic Research Service; failed in 125-298 vote

Broun; cut $7.7 million from the Agriculture Marketing Service; failed in 107-318 vote

Broun; cut the Women, Infants & Children nutrition program by 10 percent; failed in 64-360 vote

Broun; cut $175 million from Foreign Agricultural Service; failed in 99-324 vote

Broun; cut $940 million from Food for Peace; failed in 108-316 vote

Broun; cut $180 million from McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program grants; failed in 120-303 vote

Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah); cut $43 million from the Economic Research Service, $85 million from the Agricultural Statistics Service, $650 million from the Agricultural Research Service and $1 billion from Food for Peace Grants; failed in 83-338 vote

Hansen Clarke (D-Mich.); transfer $1 million from USDA’s Buildings and Facilities to Agriculture Marketing Services; failed in 142-282 vote

Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.); increase funding for the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition by $1 million; failed in 193-226 vote

Virginia Foxx (R-NC); cut $82.5 million from the Women, Infants & Children program; failed in 119-306 vote

Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.); cut Food for Peace by $200 million and use half for the Rural Development Loan Program and the other half for spending reduction; failed in 139-285 vote

Gosar; cut $100 million from Food for Peace; failed in 124-300 vote

Laura Richardson (D-Calif.); transfer $10 million from the Farm Service Agency to the Commodity Assistance Program; failed in 200-224 vote

Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.); cut $392 million from FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products; failed in 164-257 vote

By voice vote, members also rejected three additional amendments from Rep. Broun. These would have reduced USDA’s fleet of passenger cars by half, cut the Rural Housing Assistance program by $20 million and ended the Watershed Rehabilitation Program.