Page 55 - MNLGA Free State Summer 2024_WEB

House Agriculture Bill Boosts Floriculture and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance Named Trump’s Pick for VEEP
Nursery Research, IR-4 Project Funding Donald Trump has chosen Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his

The House Agriculture Appropriations bill for FY2025 is running mate for the 2024 presidential election, marking
scheduled to be marked up on Wednesday, July 10. Prior a generational shift within the Republican party. Vance,
to the markup, the committee released the committee a 39-year-old venture capitalist and author of "Hillbilly
report. The language includes a $500,000 increase to Elegy," aligns closely with Trump’s policies and has gained
support the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative attention for his advocacy of protectionist trade measures
and Forest Products Research, with the aim of improving and opposition to U.S. funding for Ukraine. Vance, elected
the industry's efficiency and productivity. The Committee to the Senate in 2022, served in the Iraq war before
encourages the Agricultural Research Service to work graduating from The Ohio State University and Yale Law
collaboratively with the National Institute of Food and School.
Agriculture on research that includes breeding programs Prior to President Biden’s decision to suspend his
to increase tolerance from insect pests, diseases, and campaign, polls had indicated Trump has strong leads in
other environmental impacts; testing of new organic battleground states like Arizona and Georgia, suggesting
and non-organic pesticides; implementing integrated that winning one of the Great Lakes states could solidify his
pest management and biological control programs; and victory. Both parties are heavily focusing on these states,
innovations in unmanned aerial systems. with Republicans optimistic about their chances and

Additionally, the language includes increased funding Democrats pouring resources into Wisconsin, Michigan,
for the IR-4 project, which has been raised to $15.75 and Pennsylvania as essential pathways to a Harris victory.
million from $15.0 million in the previous year's bill. The Rachel Pick
IR-4 Project has secured registrations for specialty crop
plant protection products and reduced-risk pesticides,
which improves environmental impact, worker safety, and Key Election Dates
sustainable production systems. Funding is provided to Republican National Convention: Monday, July 15
continue the project's mission of food security research Democratic National Convention: Monday, August 19
infrastructure.
2024 Election Day: Tuesday, November 5
AmericanHort will monitor the markup of the bill and will
continue to advocate for our members as the bill moves to
the Senate side.
Frida Mendez, DCLRS

Membership Matters • SUMMER 2024 55