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To Members of the NASULGC System:
The U.S. Senate has passed its F.Y. 2005 Budget Resolution (Con.
Res. 95) after adopting by unanimous consent a "Sense of the
Senate" amendment sponsored by Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA)
calling for restoration of the 10% cuts made to various CSREES
programs in the F.Y. 2004 Agriculture Appropriations bill.
Cosponsoring this amendment were Senators Richard Lugar (R-IN),
Russell Feingold (D-WI), and Charles Schumer (D-NY).
The key language of the amendment is as follows:
| It is the sense of the Senate that
levels in this concurrent resolution assume that in making
appropriations and revenue decisions, the Senate supports— |
| (1)
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the restoration of the 33 accounts
of the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service; |
| (2)
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the fiscal year 2005 funding of
the National Research Initiative; and |
| (3)
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the fiscal year 2005 funding of
competitive research programs of the Cooperative State
Research, Education, and Extension Service in an amount that
is adequate to— |
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(A)
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fight obesity and stave off chronic diseases; |
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(B)
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combat insects and animal and plant diseases; |
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(C)
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establish new crops, improved livestock, and
economic opportunities for producers; and |
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(D)
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keep pathogens and other dangers out of the
air, water, soil, plants, and animals. |
Full Text of the Grassley Amendment:
Click Here
Analysis
This amendment had its origins in the grassroots expressions
that flooded into congressional offices (including Sen.
Grassley's) in the aftermath of the 10% reductions in last year's
Agriculture Appropriations bill. A "Sense of the Senate" amendment
is important because it puts the Senate squarely on record in
support of the land-grant system's request to have the 10% cuts
restored. While not strictly binding on the appropriators,
inclusion of this language in the Senate's version of the
concurrent budget resolution is a clear first
step towards victory for all who have made
their voices heard to members of the Senate and House of
Representatives.
We all need to keep the pressure up!
Expressions of Thanks
The sponsors of this amendment -- Senators Grassley, Lugar,
Feingold, and Schumer -- are true champions of the land-grant
system's integrated mission of research, education, and extension.
These four Senators deserve our thanks, and can be reached as
follows:
Sen. Grassley:
http://grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm
Sen. Lugar:
senator_lugar@lugar.senate.gov
Sen. Feingold:
russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov
Sen. Schumer:
http://schumer.senate.gov/webform.html
Fred Clark and Fred Hutchison, for The
BRT
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