{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=FB768FBE-0F1A-4351-BA94-D604E4FECD76", "Sen. Moran Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Address Maintenance Backlog at Agricultural Research Facilities", "2025-05-29", "2025", "2025-05", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Jerry Moran", "M000934", "www.moran.senate.gov", "moran", "https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) \u2013 a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry \u2013 joined U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) and Kim Schrier (D-Wash.) in introducing the Augmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-edge and Helpful (AG RESEARCH) Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would provide resources to address deferred maintenance at U.S. schools of agriculture, including Kansas State University.\n\n\u201cFor American farmers and ranchers to continue producing the best food, fuel and fiber in the world, we must maintain the best research institutions in the world,\u201d said Sen. Moran. \u201cThis legislation will support the work at institutions like Kansas State University by allowing them to modernize their facilities and continue a long history of innovation and supporting the agricultural industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cAgriculture research institutions are crucial in supporting farming communities and driving innovation in the agriculture industry,\u201d said Sen. Hirono. \u201cDecades of underinvestment have left many of these institutions across our country with significant maintenance backlogs, and this legislation will provide much-needed financial support to enable agriculture schools and research facilities to make the critical upgrades and updates they need. I\u2019m glad to join my colleagues in reintroducing the AG RESEARCH Act to support these institutions and strengthen our agricultural communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the years, land-grant universities have surpassed their original vision of agricultural education and now conduct cutting-edge agricultural research that supports food security around the globe,\u201d said Rep. Mann. \u201cThe U.S. sees a $20 return on every dollar we invest in agricultural research, yet funding for these institutions has declined in real dollars over the past two decades and handcuffed their ability to maintain up-to-date facilities. Our bill supports agricultural research, development, and innovation at these land grant universities and puts taxpayer dollars in places with a guaranteed return on investment. When we make strong investments in food and agricultural research, we invest in the next generation of America, and in our food security and national security.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur agriculture industry employs thousands of hardworking Washingtonians and is vital to our nation\u2019s long-term strength, security, and prosperity. In the face of a changing climate, tariffs, input costs, and increased pressure on our food supply, we must support our farmers in any way we can,\u201d said Rep. Schrier, M.D. \u201cResearch institutions are essential for our farmers\u2019 success - they discover solutions to agriculture\u2019s most pressing challenges and are fundamental to successful food production and soil health. For far too long, these institutions have been underfunded, putting us at risk of falling behind the rest of the world. My bill will put the necessary investment into these institutions and provide much-needed assistance for our farmers.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe AG RESEARCH Act is an investment in America\u2019s agricultural competitiveness,\u201d said Richard Linton, President of Kansas State University. \u201cAs our research infrastructure ages, we risk falling behind global competitors. Modern facilities at land-grant universities drive economic growth across the nation, from rural farms to urban agribusiness, while developing solutions that keep American agriculture at the forefront of innovation. This legislation will help transform outdated labs into economic engines that attract talent, create jobs and maintain our nation\u2019s leadership in the global food system.\u201d\n\nA 2015 study reported that there was an estimated total of $8.4 billion in deferred maintenance at U.S. schools of agriculture. A 2021 report confirmed the effects of the insufficient funding to address maintenance backlogs at these facilities, reporting that 69% of these agricultural school buildings were at the end of their useful lives and that the cost of addressing deferred maintenance grew to $11.5 billion.\n\nTo address the deferred maintenance of these facilities, the AG RESEARCH Act will do the following:\n\nProvide $1 billion in mandatory funding per fiscal year over five years in grants (Senate bill)\n\nProvide $500 million in mandatory funding per fiscal year over five years in grants (House bill)\n\nRequire a 1-to-1 match of grant funds unless waived by the Secretary of Agriculture\n\nDirect that grants be distributed equitably to the maximum extent practicable\n\nLimit grant funds awarded to any one state to no more than 20 percent\n\nThe AG RESEARCH Act is endorsed by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU).\n\nClick HERE to read the full text of the legislation.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:20:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=FB768FBE-0F1A-4351-BA94-D604E4FECD76"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8440650999546051, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}