2022 -- H 8135

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LC005723

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,000,000 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE

ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Tobon, Casey, Fogarty, McEntee, Morales, Craven,
Hawkins, Vella-Wilkinson, Williams, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: April 13, 2022

     Referred To: House Finance

     WHEREAS, President Biden recently announced a goal to shift the country from less

dependence on chemical and petroleum derived fertilizers for lawns and crops and embark on a

greater utilization of fully organic green technologies; and

     WHEREAS, In order for the State of Rhode Island to capture its fair share in this new

Green centered economic opportunity, the University of Rhode Island would need economic

assistance to enable it to become a leader in the knowledge of such technologies; and

     WHEREAS, Half of the one million dollars in requested funds would be utilized by URI

to rent a temporary modular system for the testing and research for a period of six months to a

year. The other half of the funds would be used to fund internal salaries, internships and expenses

related to demonstrating and validation of the technology that will process restaurant and or

seaweed into a natural organic soil microbe that will reduce the need for commercial nitrogen and

phosphorus; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby recognizes the country's shift to

embark on a greater utilization of fully green technologies related to fertilizers for lawns and crop

production and sustainability; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby recognizes that the University of

Rhode Island is on the forefront of programs relating, but not limited to, Sustainable Agriculture

and Food Systems as well as the programs related to Plant Sciences and Entomology; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby recognizes the importance of

supporting the University of Rhode Island's efforts to be on the forefront of innovation, through

funding to be utilized by the University of Rhode Island's appropriate department(s) to identify,

research and test technologies related to fully organic green technologies related to fertilizers for

lawns and crop production and sustainability as well as the processing of restaurant food waste

and or seaweed in to a natural organic soil microbe that will reduce the need for commercial

nitrogen and phosphorus; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2022-2023, the sum of one million dollars ($1,000,000)

to the University of Rhode Island to expand the state's economic opportunities in Regenerative

Agriculture Technologies; and the state controller is hereby authorized and directed to draw his

orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of said sum, or so much thereof as may be from

time to time required, upon receipt of properly authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF $1,000,000 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF RHODE

ISLAND

***

     This resolution would authorize the appropriation of the sum of $1,000,000 to the

University of Rhode Island to expand the state's economic opportunities in Regenerative

Agriculture Technologies.

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