Last week, California Congressmen David Valadao (CA-22) and Jimmy Pannetta (CA-19) introduced the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. The bill provides an additional $14 billion to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist agriculture producers impacted by losses caused by natural disasters in 2023.
The Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act:
Appropriates $14 billion to the Office of the Secretary for Agriculture for necessary expenses related to 2023 disasters.
Includes a $1.5 billion carveout for livestock losses and provides expanded assistance to livestock producers, including relocation of livestock, feed crop losses, and shelter-in-place procedures.
Covers quality loss from smoke-tainted wine grapes due to wildfire.
Includes additional provisions modeled after the 2021 Emergency Relief Program and the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022 covering the definition of drought, direct payments to producers, payment limitations, crop insurance requirements, etc.
Includes a new provision to ensure payments are administered simultaneously for all producers, regardless of type of qualified loss.
“Natural disasters like drought and flooding have caused devastating losses for Central Valley producers over the last two years,” said Congressman Valadao. “These extreme weather events negatively affect the security of our nation’s food supply, prices for consumers, and jobs throughout our community. My legislation provides USDA with the funding necessary to assist farmers in California and across the country who have been impacted by natural disasters. Producers in the Central Valley have had a difficult and uncertain couple of years, and I’ll continue working to ensure they have the resources and support they need to grow the food that feeds the world.”
Representatives Valadao and Panetta were joined in introduction by Reps. John Duarte (R-CA), Jim Costa, (D-CA), Vince Fong (R-CA), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Marc Molinaro (R-NY), Mike Thompson, and Josh Harder (D-CA).
“Our farmers and ranchers have been getting hammered with severe weather, significant flooding, smoke damage, and steep prices, which have all led to serious setbacks this season,” said Rep. Panetta. “The bipartisan Agriculture Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act would allow the federal government to provide reasonable assistance as necessary for those in our agricultural industry to recover and continue moving forward. This bill is the least that Congress can do to ensure that the federal government plays its part to help those who help put food on our tables."
To read a one page summary of the bill, click here.
