Ag disaster bill introduced in House

WASHINGTON,D.C. - Legislation toaid Valley farmers and workers, H.R. 925 was introduced today in the U.S. Houseof Representatives by a bipartisan coalition of 26 California House members ledby Congressmen Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Devin Nunes, R-Tulare.

Senator Barbara Boxer introduced a bill in the U.S. Senatetoday containing the same provisions.

Announcement of the introduction of the bills by CongressmenCosta and Nunes and Senator Boxer was made at a joint news conference heldWednesday in Washington, D.C. Reps. George Radanovich,R-Mariposa, and Kevin McCarthy, R- Bakersfield, also spoke at the newsconference in support of the legislation along with California Secretary ofAgriculture A.G. Kawamura and California Secretary of Labor Victoria Bradshaw.

"The January freeze has endangered the livelihood offarmers and farm workers in the Valley and throughout the state," Costasaid, adding, "This bipartisan legislation will bring much needed aid tothese farmers and farm workers and others who have been impacted by thedevastating freeze."

"Some may say that this bill is costly. My response issimple. The cost to rural communities across our state is far greater,should Congress not act. We have a responsibly to help our constituentssuffering from natural disasters and I hope we can move quickly to getassistance to those in need", said Congressman Nunes.

"Many CentralValley farmers, ranchers and workers have endured great hardshipsas a result of the January freeze," said Congressman Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced."This federal relief package would provide badly needed assistance to thosehardest hit by this natural disaster."

"Today, I join my friends, Jim Costa and Devin Nunes, and myfellow Californialawmakers in supporting a bipartisan effort to bring relief to those devastatedby the recent freeze," said Congressman McCarthy. "With California agricultural losses estimated inthe billions of dollars, we must do what we can to help our hardworking farmersand farm workers get back on their feet and continue to feed our nation."

Congressman Radanovich said, "I'm grateful for the work theGovernor has done to declare this freeze a disaster and encourage the Presidentto work quickly to do the same. This legislation is going to provide muchneeded relief to all those who have suffered due to the extreme weatherconditions over the past year and a half. I would also like to thank andrecognize the local charities that responded quickly to provide immediateassistance to those in need."

The disaster aid legislation will provide as much as $1.7billion emergency assistance to agricultural producers, manufacturers andworkers in 22 counties in California.

In addition to providing aid to farmers, ranchers and farmworkers impacted by the January freeze, the bill also covers losses due toflooding in 2005 and heat or flooding in 2006 and losses as a result of salmonharvesting restrictions on the Klamath River Fall.

Specific provisions of the bill include:

• Assistance to specialty crops, nursery crops and trees, in addition to vines, livestock and dairy production losses.

• Livestock and dairy payments up to a limit of $125,000.

• Small business loans

• Human assistance including food coupons, grants to assist low-income and seasonal farm workers and temporary mortgage and rental assistance.

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