U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) commended government-promised funds and removal of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, widely known as the Peoria Ag Lab, from a list of facility closures in President Donald Trump’s fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget proposal.
“I am grateful to President Trump for recognizing the great work being done at the Ag Lab and for his decision to have the lab fully funded in FY 2020,” Rep. LaHood said on March 18. “The innovative work being done at the Ag Lab is second to none and I am pleased that the president recognizes the impact the lab has, not only on central Illinois, but our agriculture economy in the Midwest.”
The president’s proposed FY 2020 budget requests a total $20.8 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a $3.6 billion or 15 percent decrease from 2019. As part of the request, the budget proposal would maintain $1.2 billion for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), which is USDA’s chief scientific in-house research agency. The Peoria Ag Lab is one of the more than 90 research locations for the ARS.
“The USDA Research Lab has accomplished incredible breakthroughs over its history and with agriculture as Illinois’ top industry, it’s vital that this lab has the necessary support to continue to innovate right here in Peoria,” Rep. LaHood said on March 22.
The congressman said the decision to remove the Peoria Ag Lab from the closure list “is great news and a testament to tireless bipartisan advocacy done at the federal level and in our community.”
In addition to seeking robust funding for the lab to continue research utilizing corn, soybeans and other agricultural products in the marketplace, Rep. LaHood said he plans to advocate for hiring a lab director.
“I will continue to work with Rep. Bustos to assure the Ag Lab and its hard-working staff have the resources they need to continue their world-class research,” said Rep. LaHood.
The congressman has worked for the last few years alongside U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) to ensure the Peoria Ag Lab remained fully funded. He said this is President Trump’s first budget to include funding for the Peoria Ag Lab since the president proposed its elimination in his first two budgets.
“For years, Congressman LaHood and I joined forces to fight back against the president’s proposed cuts to the Peoria Ag Lab – and this year’s budget shows that the White House heard us loud and clear,” Rep. Bustos said. “The Ag Lab is not only critical to the Peoria community – but their groundbreaking discoveries have helped consumers, improved our economy and even saved countless lives. This victory shows that community activism and bipartisan cooperation in Congress can still work and make a true difference in our country.”
Rep. LaHood reiterated that he’ll continue his bipartisan and bicameral efforts in Congress “to ensure the Peoria Ag Lab receives the appropriate funding.”