WASHINGTON - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-Flint), announced today the funding of several vital programs in the House Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2007.  The bill passed the House of Representatives late yesterday evening with Congressman Kildee’s support by a vote of 378-46.  Among the amendments soundly defeated on the floor was an attempt to weaken the no-cost U.S. sugar program vital to farmers and sugar producers in mid-Michigan.

“The House bill contains funding for vital programs that will help protect the American people against the bird flu pandemic and mad cow disease, among others,” Kildee said.  “I am also pleased my colleagues overwhelmingly rejected an attempt to gut our existing sugar policy and damage Michigan sugar producers so that foreign sugar would benefit at the expense of American farmers.”

The House-passed bill protects human health and safety by funding avian flu countermeasures which will total $111 million for the coming fiscal year when combined with funding from a supplemental bill passed late in 2005.  The bill also provides critical support for food safety and inspection services, animal health and inspection services, and tools for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) detection, informally known as “mad cow disease.”

The bill also funds the Agricultural Research Service at $1.2 billion, an important resource for farmers in Michigan.

The anti-sugar amendment, which would have lowered the rate on government loans and made the domestic sugar program less stable, was defeated by a vote of 281-135, with Congressman Kildee voting no.  Yesterday’s vote marks the largest margin in a sugar vote in recent years, which is significant with Congress planning to reauthorize major farm programs next year.

The Senate will consider FY07 appropriations bills later this summer.