On July 9, 2009, the US House of Representatives passed the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. Two Members of Congress, who are also members of the Congressional Organic Caucus, brought support for organic agriculture to the floor. Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH-10th) stood up to support funding for the USDA Economic Research Service's Organic Production and Marketing Data Initiative. Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ-12th) successfully urged Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT-3rd), chairwoman of the House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, to include, in her Manager's Amendment, increased funding for the Office of Inspector General at USDA (USDA-OIG) to determine whether the USDA Organic certification program ensures that the most rigorous standards for certification are honored.

The proposal was likely inspired by the July 3, 2009, Washington Post article, "Purity of Federal 'Organic' Label Is Questioned," and the Cornucopia Institute's May 10, 2008, request to the USDA-OIG for an investigation into "the performance of the National Organic Program (NOP) and enforcement agents of the USDA in protecting and guaranteeing the integrity of federal organic agriculture regulatory standards."

The amendment passed 266-161.

Here is a transcript of the DeLauro-Kucinich and DeLauro-Holt colloquies:

Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentlewoman. I rise to engage in a colloquy with the chairwoman of the subcommittee.

   Reliable economic data is critical for any industry. Congress has historically supported the Economic Research Service of the USDA which has collected and analyzed segregated organic data. Organic farming is one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. agriculture. The need and demand for this information will continue to increase.

   Though language has been included in past Agriculture appropriation bills that dedicates funding for the Organic Production and Marketing Data Initiative, it is not included this year. Only $500,000 of the $82.5 million budget of the Economic Research Service would help meet the needs of the initiative. Is it the gentlelady's opinion that the funding for the initiative should remain strong?

   Ms. DeLAURO . The importance of the program is clear, Mr. Kucinich , and you have raised a very valid point. I agree with you that the Organic Production and Marketing Data Initiative should be funded in order to compete with the rest of agricultural commodities.

   Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentlelady.

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Mr. HOLT. Mr. Chairman, I commend the gentlelady for her work on the bill and thank her for supporting my amendment to protect the USDA's organic standards and labels and to enter into a colloquy now.

   We must ensure that the Department of Agriculture's Inspector General has the resources to complete a thorough investigation, already underway, into whether current inspectors are upholding the most rigorous standards for organic certification and receiving adequate oversight. The Inspector General also needs resources to investigate whether nonorganic substances inappropriately remain in USDA-certified products. The number of nonorganic substances has ballooned from 77 in 2002 to 245 today, and only one has been removed. If we want the organic label to mean something, then there must be strong standards for organic certification and we must uphold them.

   Ms. DeLAURO. I agree with the gentleman about the importance of protecting and strengthening USDA's organic standards. I was pleased to incorporate it into today's chairman's amendment, the amendment to increase funding to the Office of the Inspector General.