New York Sun Works applauds the US Senate, especially Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, for their work to successfully restore $8.5 million in funding for the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production at USDA. This restoration was included in the Senate-passed Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill.
New York Sun Works Executive Director Manuela Zamora said: "The New York Sun Works partnership with the USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production is making real-life improvements in the education of New York City public school children every single day. The UAIP grant to NY Sun Works funded the development and implementation of our Urban Agriculture Workforce Development Program and supported the operation of Hydroponic Classrooms in 9 Brooklyn public schools. In these schools, young people are exposed to climate science and urban farming as well as pipelines to good jobs in the sector through hands-on seed to harvest experience.
"We are deeply grateful to the Senators who have brought this funding bill to this point and encourage all our faithful partners in Washington, including Majority Leader Schumer, and the New York Delegation to the House of Representatives, to ensure it is included in the final FY 24 annual budget."
"The climate crisis is the most urgent, existential challenge of our time, and the work our elected leaders are doing on these funding bills in Washington is critical to ensure that our city's youth get the education and tools that they need to build the sustainable future they deserve."
For more information:
NY Sun Works
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https://nysunworks.org