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To Members of the NASULGC System:
This provides an update on some of the many actions taken during the last month
to positively influence the CSREES budget for F.Y. 2006.
BAC
Meeting on Feb. 9-10
The Budget and Advocacy Committee of NASULGC's Board on
Agricultural Assembly met in early February to finalize the
BAC's priority requests for CSREES and other agencies. The BAC
reiterated its support for funding increases for the 1890s, the
1994s, and other minority-serving institutions; competitive
grants programs; the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
Program (EFNEP); eXtension; and Agrosecurity. The BAC also
decided to oppose the proposal in the President's Budget Request
to eliminate three formula fund programs.
Link: The BAC's CSREES Priorities for F.Y. 2006
www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2006/BAC/NASULGC_2006_Request.pdf
Media Outreach
The BRT launched a massive media outreach effort within a
few days after release of the President's Budget on February 7.
Working with three essential messages, Ag and Natural Resource
deans and others explained how the proposed elimination of
Hatch, McIntire-Stennis, and Animal Health and Disease formula
funds would harm America's land-grant system.
Link: Media Coverage Through 03-15-2005
www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2006/Media_3-15.pdf
Link: Key Messages and Proof Points
www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2006/Core_Messages.pdf
CARET-AHS Hill Visits
Delegations from nearly every state and territory visited
their congressional delegations in late February - early March.
Preparation for these visits was organized by The BRT in
conjunction with the leadership of the Budget and Advocacy
Committee. The CARET-AHS delegations carried the BAC's priority
requests, asking senators and representatives to reject the
formula fund cuts and to include one or
more of the system's targeted increases within the letters to the Ag
Appropriations subcommittee chairs. The due dates for those
letters are April 8 (House) and April 15 (Senate).
Congressional Budget Resolution
The BRT, working through Senator Mike Crapo's (R-ID) office,
helped
secure language in the report to accompany the Senate's version
of the F.Y. 2006 Budget Resolution that says:
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"Agricultural and Forestry
Research: The Committee recognizes the
importance of support for the infrastructure
necessary for university-based agricultural and
forestry research under the Hatch Act,
McIntire-Stennis Cooperative Forestry Research, and
Animal Health and Disease research programs, and
rejects the proposal to phase out support for these
programs." |
House & Senate Dear Colleague Letters
Representatives Chip Pickering (D-MS) and Collin Peterson (D-MN)
have circulated a letter to their colleagues urging them to
cosign a letter to the House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee. The
letter states in part:
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"We urge the Subcommittee to fund
these programs [Hatch, McIntire-Stennis, Animal
Health & Disease] at not less than their FY 2005
enacted levels. We also urge the Subcommittee to
give priority attention to the other needs
articulated by representatives of the land-grant
system. America has a world class land-grant
university system, with an integrated mission of
research, education, and extension that helps ensure
that we have one of the safest, highest quality,
most affordable food supplies in the world. We look
forward to working with the Subcommittee to ensure
that we have funding in place to ensure that these
programs continue to support the important work of
American agriculture." |
A similar letter is under
development in the Senate.
Link: Pickering-Peterson Letter
www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2006/Pickering-Peterson.pdf
We will provide additional information in the days ahead.
Fred Hutchison
Fleishman Hillard
Government Relations
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