|
President
Bush delivered his $2.4 trillion FY 2005 budget to Congress on February 2, 2004.
The President's budget proposes to cut the federal deficit in half by 2007. In
order to accomplish that, Congress would have to cut funding for 6 of the 15 federal
departments. Click
here for more information on President Bush's FY 2005 Budget The Senate Budget
Committee approved, 12-10, the FY 2005 Budget Resolution (S.
Con. Res. 95) on March 4 and the Resolution was headed to Senate Floor. The
House Budget Committee will mark up FY 2005 Budget Resolution very soon. The
Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program needs a higher level of funding
next year for better assistance for rural communities' economic development. However,
the program funding is being threatened to be cut. USDA has provided Rural Cooperative
Development Grants on a competitive basis to cooperative development centers,
non-profit institutions and academic institutions that work to enhance economic
development by creating new cooperative business opportunities. The funds have
been used to help rural communities organize cooperatives, develop business and
feasibility plans, train cooperative board members, and provide marketing assistance.
Co-op development centers also support farmers and rural communities seeking value-added
income through cooperatives.  Please
write your Members of Congress today and ask them to support for $7 million in
funding for the Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG) program in the FY
2005 agricultural appropriations bill and to oppose any cuts in this critical
program!
Contact
information for U.S. House Representative
Contact
information for U.S. Senators Sample
letter:
|
Dear
Sen./Rep. _______:
I
am writing to seek your support for $7 million in funding for the Rural Cooperative
Development Grants (RCDG) program in the FY2005 agricultural appropriations bill.
This modest increase of just $500,000 over FY2004 levels will provide key support
for the nation's cooperative development centers to meet the ever-rising requests
for technical assistance from farmers and rural communities seeking to form their
own new cooperatives. Thank
you in advance for your support for $7 million in funding for the RCDG in FY2005.
Sincerely, (Signature)
(Name)__________________________ (Grange/Grange
name and number) __________________________ |
|
If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by fax: 202-347-1091
or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program.
Want
to Subscribe To  The New
Grange? For all subscription and circulation inquiries, Contact: Jonathan
Hill. | 
