The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies marked up its FY14 appropriations bill on June 5.The Subcommittee bill would provide $1.01 billion for the Section 521 Rural Rental Assistance program, a 12% increase over the FY13 funding level, but .3% below the President’s FY14 budget request to Congress of $1.015 billion. In the FY13 Agriculture Appropriations bill, Congress provided $907 million for the program, pre-sequestration, a level reached after several years of cuts below the FY10 funding level of $980 million. In April and May, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O’Brien testified before the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees that 15,000 households in the Rental Assistance program could lose their housing due to sequestration cuts. The Subcommittee appears to be attempting to mitigate this shortfall in FY14 by meeting the President’s FY14 funding request. However, other programs in the Rural Housing Service would be cut below FY13 funding levels. The Subcommittee has not yet issued its report language, which will provide additional details on its FY14 funding proposals. In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL) said, “Funding provided in this bill will… maintain vibrant rural communities.” Ranking Member Sam Farr (D-CA) said he thinks the Subcommittee bill is “relatively good” considering that the Appropriations Committee Chair’s mark resulted in a 302(b) allocation that is too low for the Agriculture Subcommittee in FY14. Appropriations Committee Chair Hal Rogers (R-KY) said, “this bill starkly shows us the reality of what we are confronted [with] on this committee.” Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) acknowledged that Mr. Aderholt has “done [his] best with the Ranking Member to produce a reasonable bill. But frankly… I have to oppose. The bill falls short just in too many places.” Ms. Lowey said that passing this bill “will require a huge cut by the time we get to the last of the bills.” No members offered amendments to the Subcommittee bill, which was approved by a voice vote. View the draft Subcommittee bill: http://1.usa.gov/19XB7Ki