REPUBLICANS RAID REAP FUNDS & FORMULA
in DM
Des Moine
REPUBLICANS RAID REAP FUNDS & FORMULA
in DM
Des Moines, Iowa – House Republicans have cut funding and proposed a
change to the formula for Resource Enhancement and Protection for Iowa
(REAP) grants which will nearly end efforts to purchase or restore lands
in Iowa to improve fish and wildlife habitats.
“After 63% of Iowans voted last fall in support of our natural resources,
the Republican plan goes against strong public opinion and will stall
Iowa’s efforts to improve natural habitats, reduce flooding, and keep our
air and water clean,” said State Representative Chris Hall of Sioux City,
Ranking Member of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources
Appropriations Subcommittee.
The plan outlined by Republicans this week would cut $3.5 million from
REAP next year and change the formula used to allocate REAP grants. REAP
funding is derived from state gaming revenues. The grants are awarded to
groups of conservationists, hunters, and fishermen in every county in
Iowa. The goal is to enhance Iowa’s natural resources, improve air and
water quality, reduce flooding and improve wildlife habitat.
REAP’s conservation and recreation programs generate at least $1.3 billion
annually in tourism and economic activity across Iowa.
DC House Republicans Kill major conservation programs.
To: Iowans Interested in Food, Agriculture, and Rural Communities
From: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Date: February 25, 2011
Re: Disproportionate and Unwise Budget Cuts in House of
Representatives Budget Would Damage Food, Agriculture, and Farm
Conservation Initiatives Critical to Iowa
Late last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed budget legislation
covering the remainder of fiscal year 2011 and making severe cuts in
funding to address a broad range of our nation’s critically important
priorities and needs in the areas of food, agriculture, and farm
conservation. If enacted, this budgetary onslaught would seriously impair
efforts to improve the quality of life in rural communities; to ensure
safe food for American consumers; to conserve soil, enhance water quality,
restore wildlife habitat; and to spur economic growth and create jobs.
The budget proposal passed by the House is thus especially detrimental to
Iowa.
Without a doubt, the time has come for making and enacting tough budget
decisions through a balanced, careful, and thoughtful approach
encompassing both spending and revenue levels while not shortchanging the
essential needs of Americans or our nation’s future. These are some of
the more significant and damaging consequences facing Iowa if the
House-passed budget bill were to become law.
Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils: The House bill
would eliminate funding for the RC&D program, which assists rural
communities in boosting economic opportunity and creating and retaining
jobs while protecting and conserving natural resources and improving the
quality of life in rural communities. Zeroing out $50.3 million in RC&D
funding, as the House proposes, would withdraw support for 375 local RC&D
councils across the nation. In Iowa, the 17 RC&D councils spanning the
state would lose their entire $1.9 million in federal assistance, as
compared to fiscal 2010. For a map of those locations, please click here.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): EQIP provides
assistance, in the form of cost-share and incentive payments, to help
producers of crops, livestock, dairy, and poultry meet their environmental
challenges and requirements. The House bill would reduce fiscal 2011
funding for EQIP by $350 million (22 percent) below the amount dedicated
to EQIP in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act (2008 farm bill). Based
on Iowa’s share of national EQIP funding in fiscal 2010, the cut proposed
by the House would deprive Iowa farmers some $7.3 million in EQIP funding
that had been committed in the 2008 farm bill.
Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP): This voluntary program compensates
landowners for protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetlands. Under the
House budget bill, WRP funding would be cut by $119 million in fiscal
2011, a reduction of 22 percent from the funds dedicated to WRP in the
2008 farm bill and otherwise available this year. According to Iowa’s
typical share of total WRP funds, the House action would deny $3.1 million
to Iowa landowners for wetlands conservation.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): The House bill, by reducing CSP
funds by some $39 million below the farm bill’s level for fiscal 2011,
would cut CSP assistance to Iowa farmers by $2.7 million.
Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations: Funding through this program
for preventing flooding, conserving soil, and managing natural resources
in watersheds would be eliminated in the House budget bill. In fiscal
2010, Iowa received over $2 million in such watershed and flood prevention
funding, but would receive none if the House bill were enacted.
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