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VOLUME 62 NO.2 — April - June 2003
In addition, while America’s military fought to free the Iraqi people, USDA made new food aid commitments to that country and to Africa. Former Under Secretary for International Affairs and Commodity Programs Daniel Amstutz was named to lead Iraqi agriculture reconstruction efforts. Here at home, Secretary Ann M. Veneman illustrated for reporters the benefits to farm families of President George W. Bush’s jobs and economic growth plan, and took great pride in installing the first Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Vernon Parker.
“Our affordable food supply means that Americans spend only about 10 percent of their disposable income on food, lower than almost any other country in the world. And as some of the best stewards of the land, farmers and ranchers provide food and habitat for 75 percent of our country’s wildlife,” the Secretary said.
“We are committed to getting assistance into the hands of affected producers as quickly as possible. USDA’s response time is several weeks ahead of the Department’s timetables during the last major disaster aid package, even though this is a more complicated bill to implement. And again, I want to thank our team for their tireless efforts in that regard,” she said.
| While the grain barge
“Free Atlas” (in background) lies in port at Galveston, Texas, Deputy
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
Jim Butler (at podium) notes the start of the
journey, on April 3, of 28,000 metric tons of hard red winter wheat--destined
for Iraq. “When milled, today’s shipment of 28,000 tons of hard red
winter wheat from the farms of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas will provide every
man, woman, and child in Iraq with almost one pound of flour,” he
affirmed. --Photo by Luigi Crespo |
 |
The “Agriculture Fact Book 2001-2002” can be accessed at http://www.usda.gov/factbook
| The USDA Food Safety Mobile
is emblazoned with bold, eye-catching graphics and prominent food safety
messages. FSIS public affairs specialist Laura
Reiser said that the Mobile most recently made an appearance, on May 21
and May 24, in the “500 Festival,” in conjunction with the “Indy
500” auto race in Indianapolis. --Photo by Anson Eaglin |
 |
Healthy Forests Initiative: Changes needed to fully implement President Bush’s Healthy Forests Initiative moved closer to reality with approval of legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 20. The legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration. “This will allow us to do the fuels treatment work that is vitally important so we can get ahead of these disastrous fires,” said Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey.
The law increases the per child tax credit from $600 to $1,000. The President said, “the combination of income tax rate reductions, a higher child credit, and a reduction in the marriage penalty will make a difference for families in every part of this country. A family of four with a total income of $75,000 will receive a 19 percent reduction in federal income taxes, saving $1,122 per year, per family. A family of four with an income of $40,000 will see their income taxes drop from $1,178 to $45, a 96 percent tax cut. And under this new law, 3 million individuals and families will have their federal income tax liability completely eliminated. Altogether, 34 million families with children, including 6 million single moms, will receive an average tax cut of $1,549 per year.” For a fact sheet on how farmers are affected go to http://www.usda.gov. •