PEORIA– Today, after a press conference regarding funding for the Peoria Ag Lab, Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-18) and Cheri Bustos (IL-17) released the following statements:
“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. The decision to remove the Ag Lab off the closure list is great news and a testament to tireless bipartisan advocacy done at the federal level and in our community. Our next bipartisan goal is to promote the hiring of a director and to support robust funding for the Lab to continue research utilizing corn, soybeans, and other agricultural products in the marketplace. I will continue to work with Rep. Bustos to assure the Ag Lab and its hardworking staff have the resources they need to continue their world-class research that directly benefits the agriculture industry here in the Midwest and across the world,” said Rep. Darin LaHood.
“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,” Congresswoman 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.”
BACKGROUND
This is the first time President Trump’s budget includes funding for the Peoria Ag Lab, after proposing its elimination in his first two budgets. Representatives Bustos and LaHood have worked tirelessly together to ensure the Peoria Ag Lab remained fully funded despite these proposed spending cuts.
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