The Honorable Thad Cochran
Chairman
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Tom Harkin
Ranking Member
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Harkin:
The undersigned organizations strongly urge your support for the revised version of the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act (H.R. 3242) unanimously approved by voice vote in the House on October 7, 2004. This bipartisan legislation is of great importance to growers of specialty crops and rural communities across the nation, and we urge you to discharge the bill from consideration by the Senate Agriculture Committee so that it may be considered by the Senate under Unanimous Consent.
As approved by the House, H.R. 3242 authorizes $54 million per year for five years for initiatives designed to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crop growers in global markets. The bill authorizes funding for specialty crop block grants to state departments of agriculture, increased funding for research into methyl bromide alternatives, measures to combat pest and disease infestations, and reforms aimed at boosting exports of specialty crops.
The need for this legislation is clear. As the globalization of markets for specialty crops continues, it is extremely difficult for U.S. growers to compete against heavily subsidized foreign producers in both the domestic and foreign markets. In addition, specialty crop growers continue to face serious tariff and non-tariff trade barriers in many international markets, and thus specialty crop exports have remained stagnant while imports have steadily increased over the past decade.
It is critically important that the U.S. have a strong domestic specialty crop industry capable of producing a nutritious, yet affordable, food supply for our dietary and national security needs. In order to achieve this goal, federal agriculture policy must recognize the unique needs of specialty crop growers, and we must invest in initiatives designed to enable our growers to remain competitive in global markets. We view the revised version of H.R. 3242 that was approved by the House as a vital first step towards addressing the needs of U.S. specialty crop growers.
Moving forward this year on this revised version of the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act, which does not in any way reopen the 2002 Farm Bill, is very important to all growers of specialty crops, as represented by the diverse groups signing this letter. We urge your support for consideration of the House-approved bill by Unanimous Consent in the Senate before the end of the 108th Congress. Thank you for your consideration of this important legislation.
Sincerely,
American Mushroom Institute
American Nursery and Landscape Association
California Citrus Mutual
California Grape and Tree Fruit League
California Kiwifruit Commission
California Strawberry Commission
Cranberry Institute
Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Association
Idaho Grower-Shippers Association
International Fresh-cut Produce Association
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
National Potato Council
National Watermelon Association
Northwest Horticulture Council
Produce for Better Health Foundation
Produce Marketing Association
Texas Citrus Mutual
Texas Produce Association
Texas Vegetable Association
United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association
U.S. Apple Association
Ventura County Agriculture Association
Western Growers
WineAmerica