Federal Investments Highlight UW Visit

Just before Easter weekend, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin visited several UW-Madison projects, highlighting investments she helped secure in legislation signed into law by President Biden for the UW’s Plant Germplasm Research Facility and the Odyssey Project.

Senator Baldwin and Representative Mark Pocan joined Chancellor Rebecca Blank at the future site of the UW-Madison Plant Germplasm Research Facility to announce $39 million in federal funding they worked to secure to replace the plant breeding facility and support vital agricultural research at the UW.

Wisconsin is recognized nationwide for its diverse agricultural production and valuable agricultural research. The plant breeding facility needed upgrades to current facilities that are housing germplasm materials of national significance to ensure continued advancement in agriculture research. Funding for the facility will help ensure farmers across Wisconsin and the country have the tools and research they need to be as productive and effective as possible, while managing a wide array of specialty crops. The new facility will accommodate more than 50 faculty members, including 10 USDA scientists, and provide hands-on training opportunities to over 150 postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students. 

Senator Baldwin then toured the UW Odyssey Project and met with students and staff to discuss $500,000 she secured in federal funding. The Odyssey Project provides free college courses and wrap-around support to adult learners in need, as well as support courses for incarcerated learners. The federal funding will help support humanities classes for adult students facing economic barriers to college. Odyssey takes a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty by increasing access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice, and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking.

Both projects at the UW are part of more than $187 million Senator Baldwin worked to bring home to Wisconsin in federal funding legislation signed into law by President Biden.