07/08/05 M.A.P. funds for `06

07/08/05 M.A.P. funds for `06

Three Northwest based fruit commodity groups & The Washington Apple Commission, Washington State Fruit Commission, and Pear Bureau Northwest & and the U.S. Apple Association were among recipients of federal Market Access Program funds for Fiscal Year 2005. The funds aid commodity groups with overseas marketing of their goods. FOSTER: That means that Congress authorized additional monies to be spent. And it only really means something to the grower and to the apple industry if Congress appropriates or funds the money. Nancy Foster of U.S. Apples says this year's funding continues a trend of increased M.A.P. funds starting with the 2002 Farm Bill. But her organization and others expressed concern when the Bush Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2006 budget proposed a decrease in M.A.P. funds. Foster says as it stands, Congress so far is taking an opposite approach to M.A.P. funding for the upcoming fiscal year. FOSTER: The House of Representatives has passed $200 million dollars in funding for the M.A.P. program up from $140 million last year, so a really significant increase. The Senate Appropriations Committee has marked up the U.S.D.A funding bill, and it will go to the Senate floor and the Committee bill funds M.A.P. at $200 million. But Foster cautions there could be some opposition in the Senate in the form of a proposed amendment to reduce M.A.P. funding between now and full Senate consideration.
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