Congressional Agricultural Research Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Rodney Davis (R-IL) sent a letter to House and Senate leaders requesting they include relief for USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture in any future pandemic aid package. According to the representatives, investments in our nation’s agricultural research represents a major return on investment that helps “assist producers, businesses, and local families while helping our nation maintain its competitive edge as the leader of global agricultural research.” The letter further highlights the need for aid to restart research shuttered because of COVID-19. “In order to restart research with the necessary safety protocols in place, Congress must invest in additional resources to cover costs related to securing personal protective equipment and unbudgeted restart materials needed to safely facilitate research again,” the representatives say.