NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL COUNCIL

Agriculture: Support for inclusion of specialty crop provisions in H.R. 1, including funding for the Market Access Program, Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops, Specialty Crop Research Initiative, Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the Office of Pest Management Policy, the National Clean Plant Network, and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service activities to support domestic growers from invasive pests and diseases. This also included a revision to the Adjusted Gross Income limitation for disaster, assistance, and conservation program. Support for inclusion of specialty crop provisions in a skinny Farm Bill (no bill number), including revising a match requirement in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, establishing a new process for the National Organic Program to solicit stakeholder input on organic policy priorities, and ensuring that funds provided in H.R. 1 are specifically allocated to the Market Access Program. Support the inclusion of specialty crop growers in an economic assistance package in development by USDA. Solicitation of congressional support for a USDA fresh and canned pear bonus purchase.

Budget/Appropriations: Support for riders to the Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill that address access and affordability of the H-2A program.

Food Safety: Support for FDA approaching heavy metal policy development and enforcement actions in a transparent manner that recognizes that heavy metals are naturally occurring in the environment and does not discourage consumption of healthful foods.

Labor: Advocating for regulatory reform of the H-2A program to address cost (Adverse Effect Wage Rate, prevailing wage rate, housing requirements) and making the program easier and more efficient to use. Support the development of legislation that reforms the H-2A program to make the program affordable and accessible for growers. (No bill number.)