Harkin Pushes Agriculture and Rural Economy Initiatives Important to Iowa

HARKIN PUSHES AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY INITIATIVES IMPORTANT TO IOWA

Announces funding in Senate agriculture and rural appropriations bill for critical Iowa projects

TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2006

WASHINGTON, DC. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that he has secured funding in Senate appropriations legislation for many important agriculture and rural initiatives in the state of Iowa. The funds, approved by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies, will support a range of efforts to boost farm income, promote rural economic growth and jobs and conserve and protect soil, water and other resources. The bill is expected to be approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday. It will then need to be approved by both the House and Senate before it becomes law.

"I am pleased this Senate measure includes critical agriculture and rural funding for Iowa and the nation," Harkin said. "This bill makes progress on a number of Iowa projects."

"Despite steps forward in this bill, funding previously dedicated in the farm bill to crucial agriculture, conservation and rural development programs has been scaled back in recent years because of the worsening federal budget situation. The Bush Administration budget proposes further reductions. As this bill progresses, I will continue working to ensure initiatives important to America's farmers and rural communities do not face further cuts."

In a major victory for the nation's environment and agricultural producers, the Conservation Security Program (CSP) does not have an arbitrary cap on expenditures for 2007. Senator Harkin authored provisions in the 2002 farm bill creating the CSP.

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http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=257453