To Members of the NASULGC System:

Yesterday we provided you with preliminary information about the version of the F.Y. 2005 Agriculture Appropriations bill that is now making its way through the House of Representatives. This brief report provides additional details about both the substance of the bill and next steps.

Further Analysis Available
We promised to make available to you two additional documents: (1) a comparison of NASULGC's request and the House marks; and (2) an analysis of funding levels for the 33 line items within the CSREES budget that were cut in last year's Ag Appropriations bill. Both documents are available for download from the nasulgc-bac.com Web site as follows:

http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2005/Cuts_Restored.doc
http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2005/NASULGC_vs_House.doc

As you can see, 22 of the 33 line items were completely restored (and then some); 3 line items were partially restored; and 8 line items were not restored.

Full Committee Markup Scheduled
The House Appropriations Committee has set a tentative markup date of Wednesday, June 23 for full committee consideration of the Ag Appropriations bill. The Senate is not expected to take up its version of the legislation until after the July 4th recess.

Fred H. Hutchison
Fleishman-Hillard Government Relations