To Members of the NASULGC Family:

This email provides a brief status report on the F.Y. 2004 Agriculture Appropriations bill.

Action to Date
As you know, the House of Representatives passed its version of the bill, H.R. 2673, on July 14 after minimal floor debate. The Senate legislation, on the other hand, has been on a slower track. The Senate Appropriations Committee reported its version of the FY 2004 bill, S. 1427, on July 17. However, the Senate did NOT take up this measure prior to the August recess.

Current Situation
Since reconvening after Labor Day, Senate consideration of the F.Y. 2004 appropriations bills has slowed to a crawl. The Ag appropriations bill is one of a half dozen bill waiting in the queue. At this juncture it is difficult to predict: (1) exactly when Senate floor debate may occur; and (2) whether there will be any floor amendments affecting the CSREES accounts or other items of interest to the NASULGC family.

However, conversations between members of the BRT and various Congressional insiders have not uncovered any looming problems with respect to the Ag bill. Also, our best guess on timing for Senate floor debate is sometime in the next two to three weeks. Conference action would follow soon thereafter.

House-Senate Conference Action
Until Senate action is complete, it is premature to speculate on what course the House-Senate conference committee might take when it meets to reconcile the differences in the two versions of the F.Y. 2004 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Also, it is uncertain whether the Ag appropriations bill will be enacted as a "stand-alone" measure or -- as we're hearing more and more in recent days -- wrapped into an "omnibus" spending package.

Stay tuned. We will provide additional information as soon as circumstances change.

Links:
CSREES portions of the House Committee report
CSREES portions of the Senate Committee report
Spreadsheet comparing the House and current Senate positions