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Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 -- Continued

Date: Nov. 5, 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Agriculture and Food Drugs Government Budget and Spending

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE
PAGE S13997
Nov. 5, 2003

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 -- Continued

NORTH CAROLINA AGROMEDICINE INSTITUTE

Mr. EDWARDS. As a partnership of three strong North Carolina universities, the North Carolina Agromedicine Institute is a leader in developing collaborative initiatives with colleagues in agencies and universities throughout the country. The Institute is having a significant impact in my State of North Carolina, across the Southeast region, and across the country, on the health and safety of workers and their families in agriculture, forestry, and commercial fishing—three of the four most dangerous occupations in the Nation.

Support from the Congress over the past 3 years has provided essential core funding to the Institute as it has strived to initiate research projects to address some of the important health and safety issues that are found, not just in North Carolina, but also in all the southeastern States and across the Nation. In addition, fiscal year 2003 funding has been used to expand the Institute's focus to address the important areas of food safety, agricultural disasters, and agroterrorism. The Institute is working with the NC State Health Department, Department of Agriculture and other governmental agencies in these efforts. This year, the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee appropriated $139,000 while the House Agriculture Appropriations set aside $278,000 for the Institute. It is vital that the Institute receive the House level if it is to maintain its cutting-edge work.

When the House and Senate conference committee considers the fiscal year 2004 agriculture appropriations measure, I strongly urge you and your fellow conferees to provide $278,000 for the NC Agromedicine Institute.

Senator KOHL, you have been a strong supporter of the Institute and I greatly appreciate your efforts.

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