To Members of the NASULGC System:

The Senate Appropriations Committee reported the F.Y. 2005 Agriculture Appropriations bill late yesterday afternoon. Committee staff worked until very late last night putting the finishing touches on the committee's report. There were several amendments to the CSREES portions of the bill but
--- as far as we can tell at this point -- the amendments only related to "special grants" and "federal administration" line items. We are still going through the bill and report and will have a detailed analysis out the to system within the next couple of days. However, we have posted several items to the Web site:

Senate CSREES report language:
http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2005/Excerpts_S.Rpt.108-340.pdf

Revised spreadsheet showing CSREES line items (both House and Senate):
http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2005/2005_CSREES_Senate_Reported.xls

NASULGC request vs. House and Senate marks:
http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2005/NASULGC_vs_House_Senate.doc

Although there is no official word on when the full Senate may take up the Ag Appropriations bill, many signs point to action sooner rather than later. As always, you will know more just as soon as we know more.

Fred Hutchison
Fleishman-Hillard Government Relations