Pearce Hails Passage of Over $18 Million in Dedicated Funding for 2nd District Agricultural Priorities
House-Senate Conference Report also enables District to share $77 million more with other states
Washington, D.C.,
Oct 27, 2005 -
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce today hailed the passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of the House-Senate Conference Report on H.R. 2744, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006. This legislation, which passed by a solid bipartisan margin of 318-63, provides more than $18 million in dedicated funding for the 2nd Congressional District’s agricultural priorities, while enabling the District’s residents and businesses to share $77 million more with other states.
“New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers serve as the backbone of our economy throughout Southern New Mexico,” Rep. Pearce said. “Yet, they repeatedly confront threats to their financial survival, both natural and manmade. This appropriations measure provides them with a critical – and timely – shot in the arm.
“I appreciate the diligence and thoughtfulness with which Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Henry Bonilla (R-TX) considered our requests.”
2nd District Projects that will receive dedicated funding under H.R. 2744 include:
USDA — Agriculture Research Service Continuing Programs $3,815,858
• Arid Lands Research
• Cotton Ginning (Long Staple)
• Jornada Experimental Range Research Station
• Noxious Weeds in the Desert Southwest
• Rangeland Resource Management
USDA — The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
Research and Education
• Efficient Irrigation $1,675,000
• Nematode Resistance Genetic Engineering $139,000
• Oil Resources from Desert Plants $211,000
• Organic Waste Utilization $93,000
• Phytophthora Root Rot $182,000
• Plant, Drought and Disease Resistance Gene Cataloging $233,000
• Rangeland Ecosystems $282,000
• Southwest Consortium for Plant Genetics and Water Resources $392,000
Extension
• Range Improvement $244,000
• Rural Development $348,000
USDA — The Animal and Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS)
• New Mexico Rapid Syndrome Validation Program $547,000
• Imported Fire Ant $45,000
Rural Community Advancement:
• Colonias water and wastewater systems $8,000,000
Department of Health and Human Services
• Test Method Evaluation $2,350,000
• Waste-Management, Education, and Research Consortium (WERC) $105,000
TOTAL $18,661,858
The 2nd District will share funding with other states under the following programs pursuant to the provisions of H.R. 2744. Dollar amounts reflect the total amount appropriated for the project, of which the 2nd District will receive a portion yet to be determined:
USDA — The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES)
Research and Education
• 1994 Institutions (Nationwide project) $1,000,000
• Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Restoration $1,000,000 (Shared among NM, TX, and MT)
• Multicultural Scholars Program $998,000 (Nationwide project)
• Hispanic Education Partnership Grants $5,645,000 (Nationwide project)
• Payments to the 1994 Institutions $2,250,000 (Nationwide project)
Extension
• Indian Reservation Agents $1,996,000 (Nationwide project)
• Extension Services at the 1994 Institutions $3,273,000 (Nationwide project)
• Efficient Irrigation (NM and TX) $2,325,000
USDA -- The Animal and Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS)
• Pink Bollworm $6,280,000 (Shared among West TX, NM, AZ, and CA)
• Wolf Predation (Wildlife Services) $150,000 (Shared among NM and AZ)
