N E W S
| May 25, 2005 |
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| WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg (R), today helped craft funding increases for federal Child Nutrition, Food Stamp, and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) programs. Rehberg is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which approved next year’s funding for domestic food programs. “I’m proud of the work we accomplished today to improve funding for nutrition programs that serve struggling, low income families,” Rehberg said. “These programs are crucial to the communities they serve in Montana, and the amounts we okayed today are designed to keep pace with the growing demand and success of these important programs.” Rehberg’s committee approved a $630 million increase for the Child Nutrition programs, an increase of $5.5 billion for the Food Stamp program, and a $22 million increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Child (WIC). “Our committee also agreed to provide funding for the Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis panel to continue its work toward the elimination of brucellosis from wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone area,” Rehberg said. In addition, the Appropriations Committee approved a Rehberg request of more than $400,000 for a University of Montana valued-added product and venture development program, and more than $3.2 million for five Montana State University (MSU) programs, including: $1 million for the Joe Skeen Institute for Rangeland Research $937,000 for the Montana Beef Network $569,000 for MSU’s Montana Sheep Institute $440,000 for vaccine development for brucellosis in bison, and $298,000 for MSU’s wool research program
Included in the committee vote was an additional $300,000 for genomics research at Fort Keogh in Miles City, as well as $1.3 million for predator control in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. |
