The House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill on April 19. The proposed legislation funds agricultural and food programs and services, including food and medical product safety, animal and plant health programs, rural development and farm services, marketplace oversight and nutrition programs.

Related: Markup of House ag appropriations bill is April 19

Amendments adopted by the full committee include:

- Add language to modernize the February 2007 predicate date for tobacco products. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 31-19.

The House Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill on April 19. (Photo: Bernai/Thinkstock)

- Prevent the slaughter of horses for human consumption within the United States. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 25-23.

- Delay a new rule by USDA that changes requirements for approved SNAP retailers. Adopted by voice vote.

- Halting a new FDA sodium guidance until the completion of an Institute of Medicine review. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

- Prevent the CFTC Swap Dealer de minimis level from automatically being lowered by 60%. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 30-19.

- Allow the use of $1 million in USDA funding within the bill for loans and grants under the Healthy Food Financing Initiative. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 28-22.

- Stop the implementation of a Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration regulation that would place restrictions on poultry, beef and pork marketing arrangements. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 26-24.

- Clarify that certain existing, unobligated funding within the Departments of State and Health and Human Services shall be available to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Zika crisis, both domestically and internationally. The amendment was adopted on a vote of 30-20.

The bill was adopted on a voice vote.

For a summary of the bill, visit:

http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394490

For the text of the bill, visit:

http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/BILLS-114HR-FC-AP-FY2017-AP00-Agriculture.pdf

For the bill report, visit:

http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-114-hr-fy2017-agriculture.pdf

Source: House Appropriations Committee