Click here for Congressman Smith's comments on his vote against H.R. 2997, the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, citing dangerously high spending and a provision which could lead to the closing of a major agriculture market.  The measure passed 266 to 160.

H.R. 2997 spends $123.8 billion, half of which is dedicated to expanding existing entitlement programs such as the food stamp program.  Discretionary spending in the bill totals $22.9 billion, which is 12 percent more than last year's spending. Over the last two fiscal years, Congress has increased non-defense, non-veterans discretionary spending by 85 percent.

Smith also registered his concerns with a provision which could cost American agriculture producers millions and threatens all exported agriculture products.  This provision continues a ban on the importation of poultry from China without allowing U.S. inspectors to conduct a safety assessment.  In response to the inclusion of this provision, China has already signaled the intent to block imports of U.S. poultry for the remainder of 2009, costing producers a projected $370 million.

Moreover, this provision is preventing the U.S. from negotiating agreements concerning U.S. beef imports to China, and is blocking the restoration of pork exports to Chin