PCCEA has been very active working with the Pennsylvania legislature. It has established a solid rapport through legislative advocacy through ongoing local legislative contacts. The organization also has participated in the National Leadership Seminar in Washington, D.C. Thanks to the dedication of is membership, PCCEA has played a significant role in a number of major accomplishments:
- In 1984, the Pennsylvania General Assembly appropriated $1.9 million to install a statewide cooperative extension computer network.
- In 1985, the General Assembly appropriated $700,00 in additional funding to provide continuing support for the computer network.
- In 1987, the General Assembly appropriated a $5 million increase in cooperative extension's annual budget.
- In 1989, PCCEA helped to garner a $3.1 million increase Penn State's agricultural research budget.
- Following more than five years of devastating flat funding, PCCEA and other College of Agricultural Sciences' legislative advocate groups helped to secure an 11.4 percent increase in Penn State's cooperative extension and agricultural research budgets in 1996. In 1997, the organization was successful in helping to secure increases of 3.3 percent for the extension budget and 3.5 percent for the research budget.
PCCEA is committed to securing adequate funding for cooperative extension and the research that supports its programs. However, as we entered the new millennium, federal, state and local funding has again fallen off. Due to the soft economy and falling tax revenues, more and more organizations are completing for limited public dollars. Volunteer advocacy efforts are more important now than ever before. Want to help? Become a volunteer! (link here same as one on top bar)
Other Accomplishments
PCCEA has not only been instrumental in securing funding, but also has:
- Advised search committees and provided vital input to program planning
- Helped promote and support the Governor's School for the Agricultural
Sciences
- Affected the quality of extension programming throughout the state by providing input for the development of the four-year plan of work.
- Established direct e-mail connections to all PCCEA regional presidents,
increasing communication with our leadership and between PCCEA and
Penn State administration.
- Participated in the development of the new College of Agricultural
Sciences "Strategic Plan."
- Developed a Web site, along with Regional PCCEA Web sites, to serve
as a communication link to all local boards and committees.
- Holds an annual educational event to help all extension board members learn more about Cooperative Extension programs throughout the state.
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This page last updated Monday, April 21, 2008 15:04