Disaster Bills for California Agriculture Introduced this Week
February 9, 2007
California Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein introduced legislation this week to address the estimated $1.2 billion agriculture disaster losses as a result of the recent freezes across California. In addition, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), and Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) introduced a similar bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. "We are grateful that the California delegation has worked together to introduced this critical bill that will aid thousands of California fruit and vegetable growers who have been impacted by the recent freezes," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy at United Fresh. The legislation, "The Emergency Farm Assistance Act of 2007," would provide nearly $1.7 billion in Commodity Credit funds to help farmers recover from last month's freeze, as well as California's 2005 floods and 2006 heat waves. In addition the funding would do the following:
-Fund programs to provide agricultural employees with disaster unemployment assistance and food stamps. -Offer temporary rent and mortgage assistance to farm workers facing hardship and USDA grants of up to $20,000 for public and nonprofit organizations that provide services to low-income and seasonal workers. -Fund a Small Business Administration Economic Loss Grant Program to help struggling businesses
In addition, Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) reintroduced his "Spinach Research and Recovery Act of 2007." A similar bill was introduced last year in Congress by Congressman Farr. "Congressman Farr should be commended for understanding that spinach growers in California and across the country have suffered significant financial losses for "doing the right thing" and removing product from the market at the request of FDA," said Guenther. "Unfortunately, 99.99% these growers and handlers were never implicated in the September 2006 spinach outbreak, but they suffered an economic disaster that they continue to struggle with to this day," Guenther commented. The bill also allocates $26.5 million to fresh produce food safety research which is critical to the long-term viability of the national leafy green industry. For more information, please contact Robert Guenther at (202) 303-3409.
United Fresh Produce Association
1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202 303 3400
Fax: 202 303 3433 united@unitedfresh.org
