Agriculture and rural economies are expected to receive funding through President Obama’s recently unveiled proposed budget for the federal government’s fiscal year 2015.
The overall budget allocated $7.9 billion to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with the agency’s top priority to support the President’s climate action plan. To improve water quality across the U.S., the proposal also calls on EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build on existing collaboration.
The proposal allocates $124 million to support, expand and enhance E-Verify.
USDA will receive $23 billion in discretionary funds to invest in a new economic development grant program designed to target small and emerging private businesses and cooperatives in rural areas. It also includes funds to support agriculture-related research initiatives and doubles current funding for broadband grants.
The proposal will likely be amended by both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, but it offers insight into the President’s priorities, according to Drovers CattleNetwork.
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