Speech #980223772

A more detailed account of those items dealing with the agriculture. rural development. and related agencies appropriations bill follows: The conferees agreed to include $60 million for title II of Public Law 480 for Emergency Food Assistance to Africa. Earlier this year. $90 million was appropriated in House Joint Resolution 493 (Public Law 98248). The joint explanatory statement contains language which earmarks $5 million of available Public Law 480 title II funds for the Philippines and which provides that section 416 surplus agricultural commodities should be made available to help feed the Guatemalan refugees in Mexico on an expedited basis. The House conferees accepted the Senate amendments which provide an additional $545.544.000 for the child nutrition programs and an additional $300 million for the feeding program for women. infants. and children [WIC]. The conference agreement also provides that 70 percent of the rural housing funds made available in fiscal year 1984 shall be made available for lowincome borrowers and 30 percent for very lowincome borrowers.