Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/bingaman/bingaman090325.mp3

WASHINGTON – A package of bills introduced by U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today cleared a final hurdle and is now on its way to President Obama to be signed into law.  The package, which falls under the jurisdiction of Bingaman’s Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, contains a bill that would help the National Cave and Karst Research Institute in Carlsbad successfully compete for increased federal funding. 

In 1997, Bingaman introduced the bill -- which was later signed into law -- that created the National Cave and Karst Research Institute.  The bill required the Institute to seek outside funding to match the federal dollars invested in the research performed there. 

While the Institute has been successful in securing federal funds, the 50 percent matching requirement has prevented it from competing for additional federal grant opportunities.  The Senator’s legislation seeks to eliminate the matching requirement in order to help the Institute achieve its full potential. 

“The National Cave and Karst Institute does terrific work.  The goal of this legislation is to open up new opportunities, and expand the research done there,” said Bingaman.

The goals of the Cave and Karst Institute are to maintain a scientific knowledge of cave resources, participate in and facilitate research projects, and promote environmentally sound, sustainable resource management practices.