This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a budget amendment that would keep hundreds of thousands of federal food safety inspectors on the job.
Funding cuts triggered by sequestration would have required inspectors at meat, poultry and egg production facilities to be furloughed for up to two weeks this summer. That could have forced plants to close. But the amendment averts the furloughs through a transfer of $55 million in agriculture funds to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt, who introduced the amendment, says the furloughs could result in higher grocery store prices.
The budget amendment will now be considered by the U.S. House.
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