The Senate Finance Committee passed an agricultural tax package that creates a permanent agriculture disaster program and provides a $3 billion boost in funding for the 2007 Farm Bill. As part of this package, over $300 million was included to support the Tree Assistance Program and develop a comprehensive approach to address the intrusion of pest and disease into the United States. "We applaud the Committee’s actions and commend Senators Stabenow, Crapo and others who were our strongest advocates for ensuring that specialty crop funding was included in the Finance Committee’s tax package," said Autumn Veazey, director of legislative affairs at United Fresh. "While this funding amount does not address all of our priorities, it allows us to focus attention on other important specialty crop priorities as we go forward." Now that the Finance Committee has approved the tax package, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) will hold a Farm Bill markup session later this month. United Fresh and the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance will continue to press Senators to support increased funding for fruit and vegetable priorities including research,grants to improve industry competitiveness, and expanded produce consumption in schools. The House of Representatives passed its Farm Bill July 27. For more information, contact Autumn Veazey, 202-303-3427.