Senate-Passed Farm Bill Includes Norton’s Provision to Fund UDC

WASHINGTON, DC – The office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that the farm bill (Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013) passed by the Senate today includes her provision that would allow the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) to receive federal funding for forestry research under the McIntire-Stennis Act. Although UDC is the nation's only urban public land-grant university, until now, its college of agriculture has not been eligible for these funds. The eligibility of D.C. for these funds is a victory for the equal treatment of the District under the farm bill, which the Congresswoman began to achieve in 2008, when for the first time UDC became eligible for millions of dollars in farm bill grants.

"UDC is on the verge of receiving what we believe is now equal treatment under farm programs as a land-grant university," said Norton. "I applaud the Senate for getting down to business and passing the farm bill, particularly Agriculture Committee chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, who has now gotten the Senate to pass the farm bill in the last two Congresses. I especially appreciate Chairwoman Stabenow's strong efforts to ensure that D.C. was included in the bill. Even if not satisfied with 100 percent of the bill, the House needs to match the Senate's diligence and pass the farm bill. Millions of Americans who depend on the bill for food stamps, among other things, have been waiting for reauthorization for two years."

Last Congress, the D.C. provision was included in the Senate-passed farm bill, but Congress did not agree on a long-term reauthorization bill and, instead, Congress extended the existing farm bill for only one year. Norton has successfully fought for the District of Columbia to be treated as a state in all federal programs.

Published: June 10, 2013