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Bush Cuts RC&D '09 funding to $-0-Posted on Friday February 29, 2008RC&D Legislative Alert February 23, 2008
Earlier this month, President Bush provided no funding for RC&D in his budget proposal. This means that on October 1, the RC&D program will cease to exist. Only Congress can help us now – and we must rally now to SAVE RC&D. Congress must hear from us today and understand that their number one priority in the congressional appropriations process is to restore RC&D funds.
If you haven’t written a letter to your Member of Congress, please do it this week. Congress is determining its priorities now for funding and we need to let them know loud and clear that we need RC&D funding to continue and that we need $56 million for the program.
Sample letters are available on our website. You have heard the phrase “All politics is local.” Members of Congress will only fight for programs when they hear from their constituents. We need to be sure our elected officials understand what’s at stake with this Zero budget request for RC&D! We must explain what RC&D programs and services our community will lose if the President’s budget is allowed to go through.
Time is of the essence – if Congress does not hear from us now – we will not be able to restore funds to this program. Don’t wait – Members determine their funding priorities for next fiscal year by mid-March. If our message isn’t delivered today, we will lose a valuable program that has served our communities for over 40 years.
Ask your Member of Congress to write the Chair and Ranking Member of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and fund RC&D at $56 million. Keep in mind the Subcommittee is facing a deficit of about $1 billion in funding – and many programs will be competing for very limited funds. To be successful EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER should be writing and calling today or RC&D will disappear on October 1, 2008.
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