WHIP+ Reauthorization Pt 2
With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. The Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Reauthorization Act, or WHIP+, has been advanced to the full House by the Ag Committee.
U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse, Congressional Wine Caucus co-chair, introduced the bill …
NEWHOUSE … “I’m very happy that the Agriculture Committee moved this bill out of committee this week and we’re gaining support by many members of Congress and pushing hard to make sure it becomes law as soon as we can get it to the floor, to the Senate, and to the President’s desk.”
Newhouse says the wildfires and drought of the past year pushed the need for this kind of relief …
NEWHOUSE … “I, along with several other members of Congress, responded to drought conditions and calling attention of what we’re experiencing in the West to the Secretary of Agriculture, to ask the USDA to do all they could to provide assistance and relief to our producers.”
And, Newhouse says there’s no time to waste …
NEWHOUSE … “We haven’t seen anything, any plan from that effort yet. So, we’re asking them to truly hurry up, get on the stick, we need the help now.”
Newhouse says the need for relief is urgent …
NEWHOUSE … “Producers are experiencing tremendous losses already and are going to need some assistance and you want to look for every available assistance possible that we can provide.”
The Ag Committee amended WHIP+ relief for 2020 and 21 disasters and changed the eligibility requirements for drought to meet the current needs.
