Release No. 0062.01![](media/image1.png){width="6.497222222222222in"
height="0.5694444444444444in"}

Kevin Herglotz (202) 720‑4623

Steve Dewhurst (202) 720‑3323

**USDA FY2002 BUDGET REQUESTS RESPONSIBLE INCREASES FOR PLANT/ANIMAL
DISEASE PROGRAMS, FOOD SAFETY & TRADE**

## Veneman Authorizes Additional \$32 Million to Protect U.S. Against Foreign Diseases

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2001‑‑ Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today
provided details of the Bush Administration's FY 2002 agriculture
budget, which included responsible increases for plant pests and animal
disease programs, food safety, trade programs, and other important
Department activities. Veneman also announced that she has authorized an
additional \$32 million in FY 2001/2002 to increase inspection personnel
to protect against animal and plant diseases like foot-and-mouth at
major U.S. ports of entry.

"This budget funds key priorities within this Department," said Veneman.
"It helps protect our borders against plant pests and animal diseases,
provides full funding for food safety programs, and funds important
programs to increase trade activity for U.S. agriculture."

The FY 2002 budget provides \$849 million in program funding for USDA's
Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS), up \$174 million
over 2001. The budget also strengthens the Agriculture Quarantine
Inspection Program (AQI), which helps protect the U.S. against animal
diseases like foot-and-mouth and BSE, by requesting \$13 million in
additional program support.

To continue strengthening these important programs, Veneman announced
the authorization of an additional \$32 million to hire approximately
350 additional personnel at critical ports and international airports to
protect against pests and diseases. This authorization of personnel
includes 127 permanent officers and technicians, 27 canine officers, 173
temporary inspector positions and 20 veterinarians. These positions are
over and above the levels indicated in the FY 2001 and FY 2002 budgets
and will be financed from available revenues in the APHIS user fee
account. This decision provides an additional \$13.5 million in
resources for FY 2001 and \$18.6 million for FY 2002 for staffing.

"Given current situations around the world, we need to continue
reviewing program needs and take every possible action to strengthen our
pest and disease prevention systems," said Veneman. "Increasing
personnel at critical ports of entry is an important step that supports
additional actions we have already taken to continue protecting U.S.
agriculture."

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In response to the recent foot-and-mouth outbreak, the USDA has
announced increased measures to protect American agriculture. This
includes prohibiting shipments of products from high-risk countries;
increasing personnel and surveillance at ports of entry; tightening
regulatory enforcement; strengthening federal, state and industry
coordination; implementing education campaigns; and dispatching experts
to Great Britain to assist containment efforts. Veneman stressed that
the Department continues to review current programs to ensure
appropriate resources are maintained.

Additional USDA budget priorities include the following:

> Fully funds the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) at \$716
> million, an increase of \$21 million over FY 2001. The budget includes
> an increase for pay and benefits to support the FSIS workforce,
> including 7,600 meat and poultry inspectors.
>
> Carries out the President's commitment to expand overseas markets for
> American agricultural products by providing \$126 million in funding
> for the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), a \$6.4 million increase
> over FY 2001. This additional funding will help bolster USDA
> capability to address technical trade issues and to strengthen market
> intelligence capabilities for overseas posts. Funding for USDA's
> Export Guarantee Programs are estimated at \$3.9 billion, an increase
> of more than \$100 million over FY 2001. The Foreign Market
> Development Program, the Market Access Program, Quality Samples
> Program and Export Enhancement Program will remain at 2001 levels,
> totaling \$598 million. Funding for the Dairy Export Incentive Program
> is estimated at \$42 million, slightly above the current 2001
> estimate.
>
> Implements the new Agricultural Risk Protection Act so farmers have
> the benefits of improved crop insurance as soon as possible. This
> requires \$141 million above FY 2001.
>
> Maintains average monthly participation in the Special Supplemental
> Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at 7.25
> million individuals. The Food Stamp Program is budgeted at \$21
> billion, a \$1.4 billion increase over 2001, excluding a \$1 billion
> reserve fund. Child Nutrition Programs are budgeted at \$10.8 billion,
> approximately \$600 million above 2001 estimates.
>
> Provides \$2.1 billion for the Research, Education and Economics,
> representing an increase of \$25 million, when you exclude earmarks
> and other one-time funding.
>
> Provides \$969 million for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS),
> redirecting a portion of ongoing research into important new areas and
> includes \$12 million for additional work to prevent and control
> exotic diseases and pests, with special emphasis (\$5 million) on BSE
> or "mad cow disease" and \$7.5 million to support work on
> biotechnology.
>
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>
> Excluding emergency funding provided in 2001, Forest Service
> activities will be funded at \$4.6 billion, an increase of \$600
> million. The budget maintains funding for priority activities in the
> Forest Service's Wildland Fire Management Plan, including hazardous
> fuels reduction.
>
> Provides \$927 million for ongoing Natural Resources Conservation
> Service (NRCS) activities, an increase of \$57 million, to assure
> adequate technical assistance is provided to farmers, particularly for
> the Conservation Reserve Program.
>
> Supports a total program of \$12.4 billion for rural development
> programs, including funding to support about 56,000 homeownership
> opportunities for low and moderate income residents and funding to
> provide clean, safe drinking water to 1.4 million rural residents. In
> addition, a new program of loans and grants is proposed to finance
> broadband transmission capability to provide Internet and other high
> speed communications access in rural areas.
>
> Provides an additional \$120 million in funding for the Farm Service
> Agency to ensure adequate staffing to assist with heavy workloads
> associated with the implementation of emergency farm programs
> throughout the country.
>
> **FACT SHEET: AGRICULTURAL QUARANTINE INSPECTION INITIATIVE**
>
> To maintain vigilance in protecting U.S. agriculture, the Agricultural
> Quarantine Inspection (AQI) activities are directed to increase 262
> staff years for inspectors, veterinary medical officers, and canine
> teams to conduct international arrival inspections at critical ports
> and international airports.
>
> For FY 2001, this would consist of:

127 permanent officers/technicians,

27 canine officers,

173 temporary inspection positions, and

20 veterinarians.

> For FY 2002, APHIS will:

continue 127 permanent officers/technicians ,

increase to 35 the number of canine officers;

convert 80 temporary inspection positions to permanent, and

continue 20 veterinarians.

> **Increase FY 2002 AQI staffing more than 35 percent over FY 2000.**

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
                    FY 2000 Actual    FY 2001 Estimate  FY 2002 Budget

  AQI staff years   2567              3068              3222

  New Initiative    --                262               262

  Total             2567              3330              3484
  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------

> \* Temporary positions in FY 2001 do not have an one-to-one equivalent
> to staff years.
>
> To finance this effort, USDA will add \$13.5 million over and above
> the \$264 million already estimated for FY 2001. Further, in FY 2002,
> an additional \$18.6 million will be used for such activities above
> the \$277 million in the budget request. Compared to FY 2000 levels,
> funding for AQI would rise by about 30 percent in FY 2001 and almost
> 40 percent in FY 2002. Resources devoted to AQI under this new
> initiative are reflected in the following table.
>
> **Increase FY 2002 AQI program funding almost 40 percent above FY
> 2000**.

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
                    FY 2000 Actual    FY 2001 Estimate  FY 2002 Budget

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------

  ----------------- -----------------------------------------------------
                    Million dollars

  ----------------- -----------------------------------------------------

  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------
  AQI program level 213               264               277

  New Initiative    \--               13.5              18.6

  Total             213               277.5             295.6
  ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- -----------------

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