James M. Jeffords: “I thank Chairman Bennett and Ranking Member Kohl for their leadership in crafting the Senate's version of the 2004…”

“I thank Chairman Bennett and Ranking Member Kohl for their leadership in crafting the Senate's version of the 2004 Agriculture appropriations bill. I appreciate their willingness to work with me to include $2 million in funding for the Historic Barn Preservation Program. This program was authorized in the 2002 farm bill, but until now has not received any funding. Our Nation's aging barns are important symbols of our agricultural heritage, and we must see that they remain a part of our landscapes. This program was established to preserve barns that are in danger of falling beyond repair due to decades of deferred maintenance. To qualify, a barn must be at least 50 years old. Preservationists are especially concerned with the oldest barns, many are more than 200 years old and some date back as far as 1790. Before this program can be successfully implemented, Congress must give it adequate funding. My amendment, which would provide $2 million in funding for the barn preservation program, will address the growing demand for historic preservation in our rural communities by documenting and researching appropriate techniques and best practices for protecting these treasures.”