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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2004

SCHUMER: KEY SENATE PANEL COMMITS TO FUNDING THE CORNELL CENTER FOR HEALTH BASED CROP GENOMICS

Federal Funding would be used for construction of the new USDA/ARS Center on Cornell’s Ithaca campus

US Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has committed to providing federal funding for construction of the Cornell Center for Health Based Crop Genomics at Cornell University in the FY05 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The Bill will now go to the Senate Floor.

"Improving science for our farmers is very important," said Schumer. "This funding will help build a new center for crop research and provide scientists at the University with the lab space and resources they need and help the Southern Tier to strengthen its position as one the premier centers for agriculture research in the country.”

Schumer said that the Senate Appropriations Committee has committed to providing funding for this project in FY05 and that the precise amount of federal dollars will be determined with the Senate and the House of Representatives meet in conference to finalize the bill. The House version of the FY05 Agriculture Appropriations Bill also includes funding for this project. At the Center, researchers will focus on plants as a source of nutrients and health promoting compounds for humans and livestock.

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