Durbin, Moran Reintroduce Bill to Boost USDA Agricultural Research Funding

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D Illinois, and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, R Kansas, reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would increase funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture research programs by 5 percent each year plus inflation for the next 10 years. The measure, known as the America Grows Act, would support research at the Agriculture Research Service, National Institute for Food and Agriculture, National Agriculture Statistics Service, and Economic Research Service. The senators said the plan is intended to strengthen agricultural innovation, improve crop systems, address plant and animal disease, and expand markets for farmers. They said U.S. public investment in agriculture research has declined over time while other countries have increased funding, raising concerns about long term competitiveness and food production needs.