En bloc amendment

If Congress finds $18 billion lying under a stone, House Agriculture Committee chair Collin Peterson knows exactly how to spend it. Here are some details of the 61-page Reserve Fund En bloc amendment, as described on the House Agriculture Web site:

The Congressional Budget Resolution for FY 2008 includes a reserve fund for agriculture. Under the terms of the resolution, up to $20 billion in additional budget authority over 5 years may be allocated to the farm bill to the extent that other legislation is passed to offset the additional amount. The Reserve Fund En Bloc amendment includes proposals which, if approved by the Agriculture Committee, will be presented for consideration by the House as offsets are obtained.

TK: The USDA fruit and vegetable snack program is found here, with authorization for $100 million for at least 50 elementary or secondary schools in each state but still relying on budget offsets to get funding. I don't see how a 2007 farm bill passes without mandatory money for expansion of the fruit and vegetable program at schools. The specialty crop research initiative is also found in the unfunded En bloc amendment, with funding levels staked at $20 million for fiscal year 2008, escalating to $50 million for fiscal year 2011 - again dependent on finding offsets.