While the budget does not propose any new user fees for meat, poultry or egg inspection, it does request funding for inspection staff so that slaughter plants can maintain their current pace of operations.
Noting USDA's concern over containing both foot-and-mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease), Veneman requested a $174 million increase that would allow USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to continue emergency programs already underway. She also requested a significant increase in funding for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection program, which would increase inspection levels at U.S. ports and borders.