The U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee “marked up” the Fiscal Year 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill May 29. Accompanying the bill is a committee report which, through the efforts of NAAA, contains similar language supporting aerial application research conducted by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) that was in the Fiscal Year 2014 report.

The language reads as follows:

Aerial Application Research – The Committee recognizes the importance of the ARS Aerial Application Technology Program. The program conducts innovative research making aerial applications more efficient, effective, and precise. Research for aerial application  serves the public good as a vital tool for the future, as agriculture strives to meet the food, fiber, and bio-energy demands of a growing population.

The committee report also contains support for pollinator health research, and support for the science-based approach USDA has been taking toward pollinator health:

Pollinators and Colony Health Research – The committee recognizes that Colony Collapse Disorder and related colony health issues are a significant concern to beekeepers, honey producers, farmers, researchers, policymakers, and the public and appreciates USDA’s logical, scientifically based approach to studying these issues and supports its proposed research plans for the fiscal year 2015. The Committee directs the Department to continue to focus on the challenges facing pollinators.

The House 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill funds ARS at $1.12 billion, a $15 million increase over what President Obama requested in his FY 2015 budget released earlier this year. The Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill, which was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 22, funds ARS at $1.139 billion, a $35 million increase over President Obama’s request, and nearly $17 million over the FY 2014 funding level. The Senate bill also includes language supportive of aerial application research.

Both appropriations bills now head to their respective chambers to be debated, although no dates have been set for consideration. Congress is now under pressure to complete the 12 annual spending bills before the beginning of the federal fiscal year which commences Oct. 1. Between now and then Congress has a month-long August recess.