Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Adminisration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2005

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 -- (House of Representatives - July 13, 2004)

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 710 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 4766.

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AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. BONILLA

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. BONILLA

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

The Clerk read as follows:

Amendment offered by Mr. Bonilla:

In title I, under the heading "COMMON COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT", insert after the dollar amount the following: "(decreased by $120,957,000)".

In title I, under the heading "FARM SERVICE AGENCY, SALARIES AND EXPENSES", insert after the dollar amount the following "(increased by $52,873,606)".

In title II, under the heading "NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, CONSERVATION OPERATIONS", insert after the first dollar amount the following: "increased by $40,458,661".

In title III, under the heading "RURAL DEVELOPMENT, SALARIES AND EXPENSES", insert after the first dollar amount the following: increased by $27,624,733".

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Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word, and I rise in support of this amendment.

Anyone who deals on the local level with the NRCS understands how the staffing shortages, the need for more funds at the local level are so absolutely critical to be able to handle the programs that are so important to farmers today. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where people who actually do the work are in contact with the farmers themselves, who do all the work out in the fields. This is extremely important that we do have those funds available to make sure that we are adequately staffed.

Also, when we look at rural development, economic development, it is a critical issue for us to make sure that we have the resources available out in the country to be able to help small businesses, to be able to help our rural communities grow and prosper. So I think this amendment is very, very important; and I certainly rise in support.

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AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MS. KAPTUR

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order.

The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman reserves a point of order.

The Clerk will report the amendment.

The Clerk read as follows:

Amendment offered by Ms. Kaptur:

In title I, under the heading "AGRICULTURE BUILDING AND FACILITIES AND RENTAL PAYMENTS--(INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)", insert after the dollar amount the following: "(reduced by $8,000,000)".

In title III, under the heading "RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM", insert after the dollar amount the following: "(increased by $8,000,000)".

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Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment. I think it is a good offset.

It is absolutely critical that we fund renewable energy as much as possible. I am very pleased that we will be able to do this, increase that account. Ethanol is so important as far as our dependency on foreign oil. We have tremendous opportunities in the Midwest, in Iowa, throughout the country to lessen our dependency on foreign oil with such things as soy diesel, biomass, wind, energy, all of those things that are renewable sources of energy and are going to be so important for our future for energy independence in this country.

It is an economic issue. Through rural America, we have an opportunity in rural America to do what we do best, and that is take solar energy through photosynthesis, be able to convert that into corn, soybeans, whatever kind of crops, and then convert that into renewable sources of energy.

We need the dollars for research, it is absolutely critical, and I rise in strong support of this amendment.