May 19, 2008

ISSUE 1219

CONGRESS PASSES FARM BILL THAT INCLUDES SPECIALTY CROP FUNDING

The Senate voted 81-15 on May 15 to approve a landmark farm bill that addresses the needs and priorities of the specialty crop industry.

The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (H.R. 2419) passed 318-106 in the House of Representatives on May 14. President Bush has threatened a veto, although the House and Senate votes signal that an override is possible.

The Farm Bill for the first time reflects the tremendous contributions specialty crops make to U.S. agriculture and the health of all Americans. FFVA commends the leadership in both the House and Senate as well as members of the committees who worked to pass an equitable bill.

The bill will put more fruits and vegetables in schools, and it enhances the specialty crop industry’s efforts to market crops and fight invasive pests and diseases. Some of the ways the bill targets nearly $3 billion to support specialty crops include: expanding the USDA Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program to all 50 state; establishing a specialty crop research initiative to develop and disseminate science-based tools to producers; and increasing funding for state-level specialty crop grants that focus on local, regional and statewide programs to enhance producers’ ability to compete in the marketplace.

The 2008 Farm Bill also includes country of origin labeling reform that provides less burdensome provisions than in the past.

FFVA commends members of Florida’s legislative delegation who supported the bill. Representatives voting for the Farm Bill were Republicans Gus Bilirakis, Ginny Brown-Waite, Vern Buchanan, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, Adam Putnam and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen; and Democrats Alan Boyd, Corrine Brown, Katherine Castor, Alcee Hastings, Ron Klein, Tim Mahoney, Kendrick Meek, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Robert Wexler. Senators Mel Martinez and Bill Nelson also voted for the measure.

Opposing the bill were Republican representatives Tom Feeney, Ric Keller, John Mica, Jeff Miller, Cliff Stearns, David Weldon and Bill Young. Reps. Ander Crenshaw and Connie Mack, both Republicans, did not vote.

For a list of specialty crop funding and policy highlights in the bill, go to www.ffva.com/member_resources/farmbillhighlights.asp.
 

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