Following Tropical Storm Hilary damage to California specialty crops, on August 28, 2023, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla hosted United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials alongside local leaders and growers to announce bipartisan legislation to improve access to federal agriculture disaster programs.
The Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act (S. 2704 | one-pager), would waive the adjusted gross income (AGI) restriction on producers who derive 75 percent of their income from farming, ranching, or related farming practices from receiving USDA disaster program relief. The bill is co-led by Senator Alex Padilla of California and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), and co-sponsors will include Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, and John Cornyn (R-Texas). Companion legislation (H.R. 4127) was introduced in the House of Representatives in June, by Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-Monterey). Among the current co-sponsors are California Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose); John Duarte (R- Merced); Jim Costa (D-Tulare); Barbara Lee (D-Alameda); Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara); Josh Harder (D-San Joaquin); and Mike Thompson (D-Napa).
In early August, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla and U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson and Doug LaMalfa announced the introduction of the Agricultural Emergency Relief Act (H.R. 5057/S. 2698) to create a permanent USDA structure to provide relief for farmers who lost crops due to natural disasters. Additionally, Senator Padilla introduced, and Senator Feinstein co-sponsored, a pair of bills to equip the USDA to better meet the needs of farm workers: the Supporting our Farm and Food System Workforce Act (S. 2703), and the Voice for Farm Workers Act (S. 2702).