Chairman Ryan (R-WI) will likely release a House budget that adheres to the FY2015 discretionary cap of $1.014 trillion set in the December budget deal. There will also likely be steeper cuts in future years to eliminate the deficit over 10 years, including to entitlement programs like Medicare and SNAP. Sixty-two Republicans voted against the December budget deal, many because the plan raised the spending levels above sequester levels in FY2014 and FY2015. It is questionable that the House Majority will be able to muster sufficient votes to pass the Ryan proposed budget as it adheres to the December FY2015 discretionary cap agreement.
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies is holding a hearing with Under Secretary Concannon, providing House Subcommittee Members to ask him questions about various programs under their jurisdiction. We anticipate that Chairman Aderholt (R-AL) will be interested in WIC program integrity and vendor management. NWA has also worked with Congressional allies on the Committee to develop questions that will allow the Under Secretary to respond to these issues.