Western Governors’ Association Executive Director Jim Ogsbury offered testimony on Feb. 25, 2020 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. The testimony provided comment on the FY 2021 appropriations and activities of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The testimony included recommendations such as: support for the Shared Stewardship strategy, which emphasizes the importance of state-federal collaboration in confronting land management challenges throughout our states; adequate funding for the conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which empower private landowners to work with states and the federal government on large-scale management priorities; adequate funding of the NRCS Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting program; support for Rural Utilities Service efforts to provide financial assistance for drinking water, wastewater facilities, and broadband connectivity in rural and remote areas.
