As a competitive grants program, AFRI supports the highest quality science to address some of our nation’s most pressing challenges: demands for cutting-edge biofuels; the need for a safe, sustainable, and nutritious food supply; global food security; and better understanding of climate-related impacts on agriculture. AFRI is the only competitive federal research program that addresses the unique needs of rural communities, including ways to revitalize rural economies. More than 50 percent of the AFRI budget supports fundamental or basic research, providing the scientific understanding that underpins advances in agricultural and other life sciences. I urge you to include strong and sustained funding authorization levels for AFRI.