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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps joined others Members of the California delegation in introducing a disaster relief bill to provide emergency assistance for agricultural producers, manufacturers and workers in California who were harmed by the recent freeze. The legislation would provide aid to San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. This assistance would cover specialty crops, nursery crops and trees, as well as vines, livestock and dairy production losses. The bill offers small business loans and significant support for individuals including unemployment assistance, food coupons, grants to assist low-income and seasonal farm workers, and temporary mortgage and rental assistance.
“I am pleased to join with my colleagues in support of this critical disaster relief legislation and I will be working to help move this bill quickly through the legislative process,” said Capps. “The weather in California may be warming up, but the damage wrought by this freeze will be felt by our agriculture community and our local economy for months and even years. We must take decisive and effective action to help those impacted by this disaster in their time of need. The Federal government needs to help those on the Central Coast and across California who have suffered significant losses and are working to recover from this disaster.”
Following the introduction of the legislation, the Congresswoman met with members of the California Farm Bureau, including California Farm Bureau President Doug Mosebar, to discuss federal disaster relief options in the wake of the freeze.
“We’re fortunate that the President of the California Farm Bureau, Doug Mosebar, lives on the Central Coast and understands the challenges our community faces in recovering from this disaster,” said Capps. “The Farm Bureau and I see eye to eye on so many issues. We are working together to ensure that our growers, workers, and businesses that have been harmed by the recent freeze receive the disaster aid they need to make a full recovery. I am also working with the Farm Bureau on comprehensive immigration reform and including provisions to support specialty crops in the next Farm Bill.”
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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.
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