Dive Summary:
- The bill delaying the 'fiscal cliff' passed in a late night session of Congress, 257 to 167 in a bipartisan effort.
- Along with the delayed budget cuts, the Farm Bill was also extended, alleviating a lot of worry in the agricultural industry.
- Although just a temporary solution, the 'cliff' would have cut funding to both the FDA and USDA by more than $300 million, a cut many thought would be a serious blow to food safety in America.
From the article:
As Food Safety News has reported, if these cuts kick in, FDA would see a $318 million budget reduction, about $71 million of which would come out of the agency’s food program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the agency charged with ensuring the safety of meat, poultry and processed egg products, would have to shave $86 million from its budget. The CDC, which monitors foodborne illnesses and tracks multistate outbreaks, would lose $464 million. ...
