To Members of the NASULGC System:

As you may know, Congress adjourned last Saturday without completing action on most of the appropriations bills for F.Y. 2007, including the Agriculture Appropriations measure. To keep the government operating, another Continuing Resolution was passed, this one with a Feb. 15, 2007, expiration date.

On Monday, the incoming Democratic Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees -- Rep. David Obey (D-WI) and Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) -- issued a news release outlining their plans to finish the F.Y. 2007 appropriations process by passing a year-long Continuing Resolution (funding agencies such as CSREES at F.Y. 2006 levels ), which would also have the effect of eliminating all "earmarks" for F.Y. 2007.

Although we are still gathering intelligence, it is clear that should this plan come to pass in early 2007, the land-grant university system and its partners would be impacted . Not only could the system's important gains this year at CSREES -- between $29 and $43 million over F.Y. 2006 levels -- be wiped out completely by a year-long CR, but individual institutions could also lose their special grant funding for F.Y. 2007.

The Obey-Byrd News Release is here:
http://www.nasulgc-bac.com/documents/FY2007/Obey_Byrd_Release.htm

Cornerstone in consultation with the BAC leadership will issue further guidance in the near future.

The Cornerstone Team