Passing the Farm Bill & Defending SNAP

Last month I had the pleasure of having lunch with Jim Brabeck, the president and CEO of Farm Supply Company, a cooperative agriculture supply business of over 2,600 local farmers. He was in Washington, D.C. as my guest for the President's State of the Union address, and as we spoke, our conversation repeatedly came back to a common theme: agriculture's integral role in the character and economy of the Central Coast.

In Santa Barbara County alone, agriculture contributes $2.8 billion to the economy, supports over 25,000 jobs, and infuses $53.5 million in indirect business taxes. And there are significant non-monetary benefits of agriculture as well, like scenic beauty, cultural enrichment, and ecosystem management.

That's why I was so pleased to see my colleagues from both sides of the aisle come together to finally pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, which the President signed into law last week. I proudly voted for this long overdue legislation because, though certainly flawed, it's a big win for the Central Coast.

I also spearheaded efforts to include key local priorities in the bill based on feedback from listening sessions I held throughout the Central Coast. Many of these priorities are reflected in the final bill, such as specialty crop grants, agriculture research, pest control, and the Market Access Program.

The bill also provides strong support for farmers who want to transition to organics and strengthens USDA's conservation, farmers' market, and buy local programs. These programs will not only help our farmers produce better crops, develop innovative new methods, and meet growing demand for their fresh produce, but they also promote economic growth and job creation.

Additionally, I worked to include provisions from a bipartisan bill I authored to strengthen enforcement of USDA organic labeling standards. These improvements will reinforce consumer confidence and level the playing field for organic farmers.

Of course we know that our region is currently experiencing an emergency drought that is hitting everyone hard, including our agriculture industry. In addition to programs already in place, the Farm Bill restores funding for several key USDA disaster assistance programs. While there is no easy solution to this crisis, I am working closely with USDA and other officials to ensure that those who need assistance can get it quickly.

As with any compromise, there are parts of the bill I don't support, such as the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This program not only supports hard working Americans who need a little help putting food on their tables, but also boosts our local economy.

The cuts will have a real impact on the lives of those who need SNAP, especially low-income children and seniors on fixed incomes. In the coming months I will continue working to find a bipartisan solution to this important issue.

At the end of the day, I supported the Farm Bill because it's a win for our local businesses, jobs, and economy. It's a win for consumers. And it's a win for the entire Central Coast.

As originally published in the Santa Maria Times.