Press Release
Posted:
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy in California and in states across the country,” said Thompson. “Unfortunately, agriculture is also disproportionately impacted by natural disasters. The Farm Bill must include permanent disaster assistance so that our growers and producers are able to rebuild and recover when they are impacted by worsening natural disasters.”
“From droughts drying out farmland, to wildfires and smoke, to historic storms that flooded fields across the state, our farming communities face disproportionate impacts from natural disasters,” said Senator Padilla. “Our growers need and deserve reliable relief — we must have a long-term solution to ensure they can quickly get back on their feet following disasters. By permanently authorizing the Emergency Relief Program, this bill will swiftly administer aid to support our farmers, bolster our economic safety net, and improve our resiliency against the climate crisis.”
“The Emergency Disaster Assistance program is an important safety net for California farmers who are all too often impacted by natural disasters. I’m thankful for the bipartisan support of my colleague Rep. Mike Thompson and our California delegation colleagues,” said Calvert.
“Agriculture producers continue to be hit by floods, frost, wildfires, and more. The upcoming Farm Bill needs to include our bill, the Agricultural Emergency Relief Act, to create a permanent program at the USDA to provide quick relief for farmers who lost crops due to natural disasters so that they’re not waiting seasons for aid to come in,” said LaMalfa.
Reps. Thompson, Calvert, and LaMalfa and Senator Padilla were joined by 22 members of the California delegation.
The full letter can be found here and below.
Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Boozman, Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Scott:
As members of the California Congressional Delegation, we are bringing to your attention the impacts and sizable losses felt by California’s agricultural producers and communities throughout 2023 due to relentless natural disasters. We strongly urge that the upcoming Farm Bill include permanent disaster assistance to give growers the timely assistance they need to recover from natural disasters.
California accounts for 12.5 percent of the nation’s agricultural production and over 60 percent of the national value of fruit and nut crops in the United States. By itself, it is the 5th largest supplier of food in the world. When natural disasters impact California farms, the impact is felt far beyond the state.
During 2023, producers throughout California faced severe and unprecedented weather events. From multiple atmospheric rivers after years of historic drought and the impacts of Hurricane Hilary, it is estimated that the state has been hit with a staggering $2.4 billion in agricultural damages and losses.
While Congress continues to work towards a disaster relief package that adequately addresses these concerns in the near term, our constituents need us to address the current implementation challenges producers are facing with the Emergency Relief Program going forward. It is critical that the Farm Bill creates a consistent and standing framework for the Emergency Relief Program rather than the current year-to-year ad hoc program which causes confusion and delays in implementation.
That is why we respectfully ask that the Agricultural Emergency Relief Act introduced by the late Senator Feinstein, Senator Padilla, and Representatives LaMalfa and Thompson, which authorizes a permanent Emergency Relief Program structure, be included in this year’s Farm Bill.