Washington, May 26 -

Congressman Jack Kingston (R/Ga) remained hopeful that Georgia peanut farmers would receive an extension on storage and handling fees despite this week’s decision in the House of Representatives to remove the program from the Agriculture funding bill.

“Even though it was taken out of the House bill, I hope it will have a better chance in the Senate,” Congressman Kingston said. “We have the support of Senator Saxby Chambliss and Senator Johnny Isakson but I know they will have a tough battle as well.”

The removal came just two weeks after Congressman Kingston successfully introduced a measure to aid Georgia’s peanut farmers by continuing the storage and handling fees program through next year. The bipartisan amendment, supported by Reps. Sanford Bishop (D/Ga) and Allen Boyd (D/Fl), had been approved unanimously by the House Appropriations Committee.

“We need this to help peanut farmers,” Congressman Kingston said. “Without an extension of storage and handling fees Georgia peanut farmers could lose $42 million over the next two years.”