Reps. Woolsey and Thompson Help Secure Funding in Annual Spending Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) and Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) announced today that Congress approved $34 million to combat and research Pierce’s Disease as part of the 2005 federal spending bill. Reps. Thompson and Woolsey worked with appropriators to secure the funding.

Pierce’s Disease is a harmful plant virus, spread by the glassy-winged sharpshooter. The disease attacks and kills grapevines. This spring a glassy-winged sharpshooter infestation was discovered in Solono County marking the closest point the insects have come to Sonoma, Napa and Marin Counties.

“The diversity that agriculture brings to Sonoma and Marin counties is what keeps our local economy stable and our quality of life beautiful,” said Rep. Woolsey. "With the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter being found as close as Vacaville, this money will help prevent the spread of Pierce’s disease to the vineyards of Napa, Sonoma and Marin Counties - protecting California's premium wine regions.”

“The California Wine industry is as strong as ever, contributing over $45 billion to the economy each year,” Thompson said. “This funding will continue to protect the industry from Pierce’s Disease and conduct the research needed to eventually eradicate it.”

The $34 million approved in the appropriations bill will be allocated to the following programs.

· $3.5 million - Agricultural Research Service - Funding for various research facilities at the University of California at Davis and elsewhere to study the effect of diseases and pests, such as Pierce’s Disease and the sharpshooter, on the vitality of grape crops.

· $1.85 million - Viticulture Consortium - A special grant administered by Cornell University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of California. The funding will enhance research coordination, collaboration, improve efficiency and eliminate duplication of effort for viticulture research.

· $2.1 million - Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service - A special grant for research and education activities.

· $23.2 million - Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service - The funding will support containment and control of Pierce’s Disease, including trappings, inspections and implementing county plans.

· $3.175 million - Grape Genomics Lab/Sustainable Viticulture Building at UC Davis and Ithaca, NY.

Containment of the glassy-winged sharpshooter is a top priority for the wine industry. Over the past three years an unprecedented partnership between federal, state and local government has kept Pierce’s Disease and the sharpshooter at bay.

This $34 million to fight Pierce’s Disease is in addition to the $9 million that Reps. Thompson and Woolsey helped secure to combat Sudden Oak Death in the final FY05 Omnibus Appropriations bill. The House version of the Agriculture Appropriations bill included $42 million for Pierce’s Disease but the number was reduced to $34 million in the Omnibus bill. Since 2000, Reps. Woolsey and Thompson helped secure over $109 million to control the spread of Pierce’s Disease.