Peoria’s National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research is off the chopping block.
As of Wed., the House Appropriations Committee included funding for the USDA Ag Lab in its blueprint of the agriculture appropriations bill. The lab employs about 200 people in Peoria.
It was at risk of closure under President Trump’s budget proposal released in May. The plan would have eliminated funding for the lab, as part of a proposed 20 percent cut to the USDA.
US Representatives whose districts include Peoria are lauding the community’s efforts to save the Ag-Lab.
Republican Congressman Darin LaHood and Democratic Congresswoman Cheri Bustos thanked the House Appropriation Committee for including full funding for the lab in its agriculture appropriations markup.
While our work is far from over, I’ll continue fighting to protect this lab from closure under President Trump’s budget,” Rep. Bustos said in the release.