This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved its fiscal year (FY) 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill.  The bill recommends $21.25 billion in discretionary spending, $250 million below the FY2016 enacted level.  The bill includes the following funding allocations for rural development programs:

• Business and Industry Loans: $995 million, $75 million above FY2016 funding;
• Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Loans: $1.25 billion, level with FY2016 funding;
• Rural Water and Waste Disposal Program Grants: $533 million, an increase of $24 million above current levels;
• Rural Electric and Telephone Infrastructure Loans: $6.94 billion, level with FY2016 funding;
• Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program: $24 billion in loan authority, level with FY2016 funding;
• Rental Assistance for Rural Housing: $1.4 billion, an increase of $16 million above current levels.