Late Thursday, the House debated and later passed the Fiscal Year 2008 House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill. Ross helped restore the $456,000 for UAM’s Forestry Research Center in this annual spending bill, which the President chose not to fund in his budget.

“The University of Arkansas at Monticello’s Forestry Research Center plays a key role in the development of new, alternative sources of energy, such as biofuels and biomass, which is a critical part of our nation’s energy independence and our national security,” Ross said. “Despite budgetary constraints in our federal government, I am committed to fighting for critical federal dollars for the continued support of our research facilities in Arkansas.”

The program performs important biofuels and biomass energy research to help solve America’s energy crisis. The research examines new sources of energy such as wood products, forest crops, and forest products.

Ross pledged his support to continue fighting for this important project as this annual spending measure moves through the appropriations process.

Upon passage of the Fiscal Year 2008 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill in the Senate, the measure will then go to a Conference Committee of House and Senate members who will work to combine both Chambers’ bills to form a Conference Report. Upon passage of the Conference Report by the full House and Senate, the final bill will then be sent to the President to be signed into law.

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