Reading Room Document

Agriculture Department Funding of White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health.

The document discusses the legal issues surrounding the funding of the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health by the Department of Agriculture. It raises questions about whether the conference can be considered an advisory committee of the Department of Agriculture and if its funding can be justified using department appropriations. The document explores the legal statutes and history related to the use of appropriated funds for committees, as well as the specific prohibitions in the Department of Agriculture's appropriation bill. It concludes that the legal problems raised by the inquiry have no clear-cut answers and suggests that seeking congressional authorization and appropriation for the conference or a legislative solution would be the best approach.

August 20, 1969