Legislation Preserves Research Initiative

Following months of debate, Congress has passed and President Bush has signed into law the $328 billion omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2004. The bill contains seven individual appropriation bills – including the agricultural spending bill, which contains funding for the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Nursery and Floriculture Research Initiative.

This year’s allocation is $6 million, level with 2003. In addition to critical mechanization and labor-saving research, the Initiative currently is funding vital research on threats such as emerald ash borer and Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of sudden oak death.

Another provision within the bill with potential significance for green industry small businesses involves opening federal contracting opportunities to competitive bidding. The provision, supported by Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) potentially could bring millions of dollars in products and services to the green industry by requiring government agencies to determine whether or not private sector competitors offer better value than their current government or prison industry suppliers.

Source: American Nursery & Landscape Association