For Immediate Release

July 30, 2007

HOUSE PASSES NEW GRANTS PROGRAM
FOR PUGET SOUND CONSERVATION

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House today approved a bill sponsored by Washington Congressmen Rick Larsen and Norm Dicks that would create a competitive grant program to fund conservation planning grants in the Puget Sound area.

            By a voice vote the House approved the “Puget Sound Watershed Comprehensive Conservation Project Act of 2007,” which authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program for actions that will reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.  Local governments, Indian tribes and non-governmental agriculture-related groups would be eligible to compete for up to $5 million a year through the legislation.

            With House passage of the bill, supported by the entire Washington congressional delegation, Rep. Dicks explained that it was likely the language would now be added to a section of a larger agriculture re-authorization bill which funds similar grants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

            “Congressman Larsen and I will now be working with our colleagues on the Agriculture Committee to assure that this language – now approved by the full House – is inserted into the House-Senate conference version of the farm bill later this year,” Rep. Dicks commented.

            The House approved its version of the farm re-authorization bill on July 27th by a vote of 231-to-191.  The Senate is expected to begin deliberations on the legislation in September.

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