Costa and 23 Bipartisan Members introduce Reauthorization for the Emergency Relief Program

WASHINGTON - Today, Reps. Jim Costa (CA-16), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Cindy Axne (IA-03) and 17 members introduced legislation to reauthorize the Emergency Relief Program (formerly known as WHIP+) for natural disasters that occurred in 2022. The ERP offers critical assistance to agricultural producers, including grapegrowers, whose crops were impacted by smoke taint.

"Communities in our district and across the country have been devastated by natural disasters, including wildfires and drought," said Thompson. "That's why I am proud to work with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Emergency Relief Program. This program is an essential support system for our growers to recover from wildfires, smoke damage, and other natural disasters. As we continue to deal with the impact of climate change, I am committed to ensuring that all producers and growers have the resources they need to offset their losses.

"The Emergency Relief Program is a necessary resource for Central Washington farmers as they continue to recover from this year's late spring, which significantly impacted tree fruit production. I am pleased to introduce this legislation and encourage my colleagues to support this important program that will provide much-needed assistance to Central Washington's growers so they can continue producing the high-quality Washington crops Americans enjoy for many years to come," said Newhouse.

"The Emergency Relief Program is critical to farmers in my district, providing them the assistance they need to recover from the ongoing impacts of the drought and wildfires,"said Costa. "I am proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to provide much-needed relief to California farmers and ranchers. Supporting and advocating for California agriculture has always been one of my highest priorities, representing California as the number one agricultural state in the nation."

"Iowa farmers know all too well how common and devastating natural disasters have been," said Axne. "The Emergency Relief Program, which I fought hard for, has provided assistance to thousands of Iowan farmers who suffered from the 2020 derecho. By reauthorizing the Emergency Relief Program for 2022, this bill provides certainty to farmers that should disaster strike, assistance will be ready."

ERP is a vital program that provides desperately needed payments to agricultural producers to offset losses from wildfires, drought, hurricanes, derechos, freeze, polar vortex, excessive heat and other qualifying natural disasters.

This relief is critical as prolonged drought, severe weather events and natural disasters continue to wreak havoc on crops and livestock.

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