USDA’s 2003 Budget Calls For Increases In Key Areas
by Ron Hall, Office of Communications

“This budget supports strong farm programs, helps protect the food supply and helps low-income Americans in need of assistance.”

That was one of the points made by Secretary Ann M. Veneman as she spoke at a press conference, held on February 4, to present USDA’s proposed budget for FY 2003. She highlighted several items of importance in the Department’s proposed budget, which she said also includes full funding for farm safety net programs, substantial increases for homeland security, funds meat inspection programs at record levels and increases spending for international trade.

Veneman noted that the proposed budget supports the goals outlined in a policy book, titled “Food and Agricultural Policy: Taking Stock for the New Century,” which USDA released last summer.

USDA’s FY 2003 proposed budget calls for $74.4 billion in spending, an increase of $11 billion over the Department’s FY 2002 budget proposal last year and $6 billion above actual budget outlays in FY 2001. The FY 2002 current estimate is expected to reach $76.6 billion due to reasons related to the slowed economy, homeland security and other uncontrollable events such as forest fires.

USDA’s budget proposes a $146 million increase for programs to protect the nation’s food supply from animal and plant pests and diseases, strengthen food safety programs and support related research activities.

“This budget builds on our efforts to protect agriculture and the food supply from intentional and unintentional risks,” Veneman said.

“This increase, along with $328 million in supplemental funds provided in the 2002 Defense Appropriations Act, provides needed resources for more border inspectors at ports of entry, increased security at our laboratories and new research into emerging diseases that threaten crops, livestock and our food supply.”

In addition, “The 2003 budget reflects our commitment to a nutrition safety net by including a record $41 billion for domestic nutrition assistance programs, such as the Food Stamp, Child Nutrition and the Women, Infants and Children programs,” Veneman said. “The budget also allows for more than $2 billion in contingency funds to cover any unanticipated increases in domestic feeding program participation levels.”

USDA’s budget also proposes legislation that would add $4.2 billion to the Food Stamp Program over the next 10 years to include eligibility for legal immigrants who have resided in the U.S. for at least five years, streamline the applications process and revise eligibility requirements for working families.

Veneman said the proposed budget reduces funding in some areas, including elimination of earmarked research projects so that peer-reviewed and national priority research work could be increased.

USDA’s proposed budget also examines the programs and services the Department manages and proposes several management initiatives to better integrate computer systems and technology to provide employees and customers the necessary tools to efficiently operate and deliver services in the 21^st century.

“We must look at ways to better serve our customers and ensure programs are delivering their intended purpose,” said Veneman.

USDA’s budget proposes a federal staffing level for FY 2003 of 98,772 full-time equivalent positions, or federal staff years. This is relatively the same level as the currently estimated FY 2002 federal staff year level of 98,955.

The staffing levels for most agencies for FY 2003 are proposed to increase or stay the same, compared to their FY 2002 federal staff year levels.

For more details on USDA’s proposed staffing levels, as well as additional details on other aspects of USDA’s proposed budget for FY 2003, click on www.usda.gov/budget.

Highlights of USDA’s FY 2003 budget proposal, thought to be of particular interest to employees, include:
• Funding for the Common Computing Environment--a modern information system that will allow USDA’s Service Center agencies (Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rural Development), to share data--to facilitate efficient delivery of information and services to agricultural producers and rural residents is increased by $74 million from the 2002 level for a total of $133 million. Included is support for accelerated implementation of geographic information systems which are critical components of improving customer service through e-Government and standard program delivery.
• Record support for FSIS at $905 million, a $28 million increase above 2002.
• $6.4 billion in support for international trade programs--a $50 million increase--designed to promote U.S. agricultural exports, develop long-term markets overseas and improve world food security.
• $6.1 billion in support for the Natural Resources and Environment agencies. This includes approximately $1.5 billion in funding for the National Fire Plan; a $50 million increase in conservation operations in NRCS; and a $36 million increase for the National Forest System to support programs such as the National Energy Plan and wilderness management activities.
• $2.3 billion to support ongoing research programs in high priority areas such as research on new prevention and control strategies for emerging, reemerging and exotic diseases of animals such as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Foot and Mouth Disease research. Other research will support the development of biotechnology, industrial and bioenergy products, environmental protection, and expanded market opportunities.
• funding to support a 2.6 percent pay raise for USDA employees.

USDA’s proposed budget for FY 2003 was transmitted to Congress earlier on the same day as the Department’s press conference. •