[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. VAN HOLLEN (for himself, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Tillis, Mr. 
        Graham, Mr. Brown, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. 
        Manchin):
  S. 2384. A bill to amend the National Agricultural Research, 
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to make funding available to 
1890 institutions without fiscal year limitation; to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Carryover 
Equity Act of 2018 to eliminate the 20 percent carryover limitation 
which is an impediment to flexibility and effective financial planning 
of the 1890s Extension Program. The 1890s Extension Program is 
administered by the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture 
(NIFA) and is a capacity funding program supporting extension 
activities at 1890 Land-Grant Universities. Its intent is to increase 
and strengthen agricultural sciences at the 1890s through the effective 
integration of education, research and extension programs.
  My State is the home of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore 
(UMES), Maryland's only 1890 Land-Grant University and one of the 
State's four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). 
UMES, along with the University of Maryland College Park, form the 
University of Maryland Extension--a statewide educational organization 
funded by Federal, State, and local governments that brings research-
based knowledge directly to communities throughout the ``Old Line'' 
State. The mission of University of Maryland Extension is to educate 
citizens to apply practical, research-based knowledge to critical 
issues facing individuals, families, communities, the State of 
Maryland, and its global partners.
  In Maryland, the 1890 Extension Program is headquartered at UMES in 
Princess Anne, MD and extension programming at the University focuses 
on 4-H STEM; nutrition and health; seafood technology; small farm 
outreach; and small ruminant research. The UMES program is targeted to 
diverse audiences on the agriculturally important Eastern Shore with 
special emphasis on those with limited resources to help them improve 
their quality of life and to successfully pursue a career in 
agriculture.
  Mr. President, current law limits the funding amount an 1890 
institution may carry over in any fiscal year to 20 percent of the 
1890s Extension Program funding received. This prohibition creates 
significant impediments for 1890 institutions to carry out their 
mission to deliver programs to customers and clientele and restricts 
the ability of 1890 institutions to efficiently and effectively manage 
their funding. No other USDA/NIFA capacity program has a similar 20 
percent carryover limitation. By eliminating this 20 percent 
limitation, via the Carryover Equity Act, the 1890s Extension Program 
will have the same funding flexibility found in the other major 
capacity programs administered by NIFA. This bill has the strong 
support of 1890 institution Presidents as well as the Association of 
Public & Land-Grant Universities.
  I am pleased to be joined in introducing this bill by Senators 
Perdue, Brown, Tillis, Cardin, Coons, Graham, Manchin and Kaine who, 
like me, recognize the value 1890 land grant institutions bring to the 
rural communities of our States and the research and technical support 
these institutions provide to our socially disadvantaged, and veteran 
farmer, and rancher constituents with limited resources. I look forward 
to working together with Senate and House colleagues to see that this 
important legislation is included in the next Farm Bill.
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