"This spending bill promotes economic development in rural communities, conservation programs, food safety and agricultural research and education activities," Grassley said. "Key Iowa projects with national importance such as modernization of the National Animal Disease Center in Ames and the preservation of the Loess Hills in western Iowa will benefit from the funding."
Grassley said the bill provides $40 million to modernize the National Animal Disease Center in Ames. "I'm glad to see that funding for the NADC was preserved in the final version of the legislation. Modernizing the center will ensure that the lab will continue to meet the threats to our livestock industry, especially outbreaks of animal diseases. The center's research is critical in maintaining the safety of animal agriculture in the United States," Grassley said.
The Senate approved the agriculture appropriations conference report for fiscal year 2002 by a vote of 92 to 7. The conference report is the final version of the legislation passed by Congress before going to the White House for the president's approval.
Following are additional items contained in the bill:
?$800,000 for the Hungry Canyons Project/Loess Hills Erosion Control in Western Iowa;
?$1.53 million for the Iowa Biotechnology Consortium;
?$196,000 for the National Center for Agriculture Safety in Iowa;
?$1 million for the Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute for Iowa and Missouri;
?$600,000 for Centers for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) in Iowa;
?$360,000 for the Agriculture Based Industrial Lubricant research program at the University of Northern Iowa;
?$280,000 for the Iowa Vitality Center;
?$245,000 for food irradiation in Iowa;
?$1.598 million for the animal science food safety consortium in Iowa, Arizona and Kansas;
?$242,000 for blocking anhydrous methamphetamine production in Iowa;
?$200,000 for hoop barns in Iowa;
?$463,000 for human nutrition in Iowa;
?$632,000 for Midwest Agricultural projects in Iowa;
?$400,000 for Midwest Poultry Consortium in Iowa;
?$186,000 for protein utilization in Iowa;
?$232,000 for dairy education in Iowa;
?$294,000 for integrated cow/calf management.