Senate Protects Rural Development and Rural Asset-Building Programs (For Now) and Rejects SACI

"The Center for Rural Affairs has a website with an excellent synopsis of the future funding crisis at the federal level for important rural development assistance programs." Ray Trumpower

(Many thanks to Ray for sending this along. Russ)

Though the 2006 federal fiscal year began on October 1, 2005, Congressional work remains on annual appropriations bills. The U.S. Senate is now considering appropriations bills adopted by Appropriations Committee sub-committees. To date, the Senate has adopted the appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture. Bills for the Departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services have been adopted by their respective appropriations sub-committees and are awaiting action by the full Senate.

After appropriations bills have been adopted by both the House and Senate, a conference committee will meet to work out any differences between the two bills.

Full Report: http://www.cfra.org/briefs/rab_approps_1005.htm