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SENATE PANEL VOTES TO ADD $4 BILLION IN DROUGHT, DISASTER AID
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Senate Appropriations Committee voted to add over $4 billion in drought and disaster aid to the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, but once again it appears the money is not headed anywhere soon. The House lacks a similar provision, and it is doubtful the Senate will take up the bill anytime soon since the disaster provisions are opposed by both the White House and leaders in the House and Senate. The provisions are similar to those included in the bill introduced by Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND), but do not include the $500 million recently included in the FY 06 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill for hurricane-related losses. Also included in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill are several projects endorsed by the Alabama Farmers Federation, and included by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. These projects include: -- Catfish Vaccine and Microbe Research, $1.38 million -- Catfish Genome Research, $925,000 -- National Soil Dynamics Lab-Crop Improvement Practices, $1.7 million -- National Soil Dynamics Lab-Land Grant Alliance, $1.12 million -- Tri-State Peanut Research, $585,000 -- Horn Fly Research, $198,000 The House has already passed its version of this bill, which also contains funding for these projects.
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