Dodd, Lieberman Announce Connecticut Funding in Agriculture Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, DC - Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today praised the Senate passage of the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill which contains $5,983,000 for Connecticut. The bill has been passed by the House, and will now go to the President for his signature. The legislation includes funding for vaccine research, food safety programs, and sustainable agriculture development.

The bill also includes an amendment the Senators were able to attach to which reinstates eligibility in the USDA's Rural Development program for 12 Rural Development projects in CT, MA, and RI. These projects had been approved by the regional USDA office and are all in engineering stages or already under construction; however, their approval was revoked due to a new interpretation issued by USDA's Office of General Counsel of what constitutes an eligible rural entity. The Connecticut projects reinstated by the amendment are: a wastewater treatment facility in Bolton and Vernon, the Newtown Youth Academy, and Generations Family Health Care, a rural health facility in Windham.

"This bill will provide important support to Connecticut's agriculture industry in key areas such as conservation, nutrition, and food safety," said Dodd. "It also includes a vitally important mandate for the USDA to uphold its commitment to fund projects in rural corners of our state, including the water treatment project underway serving Lower and Middle Bolton Lakes."

"Connecticut has one of the oldest agricultural industries in the country, and it has worked to adapt to survive and compete over the years," Lieberman said. "I am pleased to be able to support this important Connecticut industry, as well food safety and research programs which will bring high tech jobs and economic growth to our State."

Below is a breakdown of the funds from which Connecticut stands to benefit:

• $3,654,000 to the University of Connecticut Center for Excellence for Vaccine Research to continue the cooperative agreement between the USDA Animal Research Service for advancing animal vaccines

• $401,000 to the University of Connecticut Food Marketing Policy Center for research programs on food industries, food safety and security

• $500,000 to the University of Connecticut for protein production for research into combating viruses and microbes

• $333,000 to Tufts University in Woodstock, CT, for conducting research on improving conservation and sustainable agriculture product development

• $295,000 to the New England Center for Invasive Plants to allow a consortium of the University of Connecticut, the University of Vermont, and the University of Maine to develop effective ways to address problems of invasive plants in New England and across the country

• $300,000 to Massaro Community Farm in Woodbridge, CT, to restore, enhance, and preserve the existing historic farmland and structures making it a national model of energy sustainability allowing it to provide local nutrition programs and supply food to local schools and food banks.

• $500,000 to the Town of Barkhamsted for flood prevention of Mountain Brook, part of the Farmington River watershed, for watershed protection and flood prevention, including repairs and stream bed corrections.