Aderholt Questions Officials on USDA's Marketing and Regulatory Programs

Washington, D.C.— Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Chairman of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Mr. Ed Avalos, Acting Administrator for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Mr. Kevin Shea, Administrator for the Agricultural and Marketing Service Mr. Dave Shipman, Administrator for the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Mr. Larry Mitchell and USDA Budget Director Mr. Mike Young testified before the Subcommittee.

“The USDA’s Marketing and Regulatory Programs’ (MRP) mission areas are vitally important to the marketing of our nation’s agricultural products and ensuring the health and care of animals and plants,” said Aderholt. “MRP’s diverse portfolio, coupled with the fact they receive funding from a number of different accounts is quite unique and requires careful scrutiny of MRP’s $925.5 million fiscal year 2014 budget request to this Subcommittee.”

“The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the USDA’s leading agency for fighting trade barriers overseas and helping U.S. exporters open new markets. Increasing access to foreign markets allows for the sale of more U.S. agricultural products and thereby supports more U.S. jobs. The Administration claims it is strongly committed to programs that create jobs and expand markets, therefore one of the questioned that was posted today was concerning the proposed decrease in funding to an area where level or increased funding could ultimately equal more American jobs,” continued Aderholt.

“Livestock and poultry are vital industries to the economies of my home state of Alabama and the entire country. In fact, the economic impact of the poultry industry alone is estimated at $257 billion. With an industry of this size and scope and continued incidents of Avian Influenza in places like our neighboring country of Mexico and the latest outbreak in China that resulted in 10 or more deaths, I find avian health an unlikely place for the Administration to look for cost savings. Nevertheless, hearing from Under Secretary Avalos was very important to our oversight duties and I thank him and his colleagues for their testimony, ” concluded Aderholt.

Click here to view Chairman Aderholt’s entire opening statement as prepared for delivery.

Aderholt currently serves as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies for the powerful House Appropriations Committee, is a member of the Committee’s Commerce, Justice and Science; and Homeland Security Subcommittees, and also serves on the Helsinki Commission.

For more information about Aderholt’s work in Congress visit www.aderholt.house.gov.