February 16, 2007On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate voted 81 to 15 to approve a $463 billion year-long fiscal year 2007 Continuing Resolution (CR) (H.J.Res. 20) that provides funding for most federal agencies through Sept. 30. The House passed the measure on Jan. 31, and the Senate, after several days of debate, approved it without amendment. The President signed the legislation on Thursday completing the 2007 appropriations process.

The CR covers the remaining nine unfinished appropriations bills, including agriculture. For most federal agencies and programs, it maintains funding at the fiscal year 2006 levels. Democratic leaders earlier this year decided that in order to focus on their priorities and on the 2008 budget, which President Bush submitted last week, a year-long CR would be the most practical way to complete last year's unfinished appropriations business.

;The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) expects funding for the scrapie eradication program to be more than $17 million and is seeking clarification on the Wildlife Services funding for any differences from the 2006 fiscal year.

Under the CR, both the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program are funded at $200 million and $34.5 million, respectively. Both programs were funded at these levels in 2006, as authorized under the 2002 Farm Bill. ASI utilizes these matching-funds programs as a means of cost-sharing promotional and marketing activities overseas for wool and pelts.
Staff contact: Peter Orwick, ext. 33

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