[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 39 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2690-S2691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CRAIG (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Crapo, 
        Mr. Santorum, and Mr. Levin):
  S. 2487. A bill to ensure an abundant and affordable supply of highly 
nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops for American 
consumers and international markets by enhancing the competitiveness of 
United States-grown specialty crops; to the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``Specialty 
Crop Competition Act of 2006.'' This bipartisan legislation co-
sponsored by the distinguished Senator from Michigan, Senator Stabenow, 
increases the focus on the contribution that specialty crops add to the 
U.S. agricultural economy. This bill specifically provides the proper 
and necessary attention to many challenges faced throughout each 
segment of the industry.
  Most do not realize the significance of specialty crops and their 
value to the U.S. economy and the health of U.S. citizens. According to 
the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, 
fruits and vegetables alone added $29.9 billion to the U.S. economy in 
2002. This figure does not even include the contribution of nursery and 
other ornamental plant production, which our bill recognizes.
  The specialty crop industry also accounts for more than $53 billion 
in cash receipts for U.S. producers, which is close to 54 percent of 
the total cash receipts for all crops. A surprising fact to some is 
that my State of Idaho is a top producer of specialty crops. Idaho 
proudly boasts production of cherries, table grapes, apples, onions, 
carrots, several varieties of seed crops and of course one of our most 
notable specialty crops, potatoes.
  Maintaining a viable and sustainable specialty crop industry also 
benefits the health of America's citizens. Obesity continues to plague 
millions of people today and is a very serious and deepening threat not 
only to personal health and well-being, but to the resources of the 
economy as well. This issue is now receiving the necessary attention at 
the highest levels, and specialty crops will continue to play a 
prominent role in reversing the obesity trend.
  The ``Specialty Crop Competition Act'' will also provide a stronger 
position for the U.S. industry in the global market arena. This 
legislation promotes initiatives that will combat diseases both native 
and foreign that continue to be used as non-tariff barriers to U.S. 
exports by foreign governments. Additionally, provisions in this bill 
seek improvements to federal regulations and resources that impede 
timely consideration of industry sanitary and phytosanitary petitions.
  This bill does not provide direct subsidies to producers like other 
programs. This legislation takes a major step forward to highlight the 
significance of this industry to the agriculture economy, the benefits 
to the health of U.S. citizens, and the need for a stable, affordable, 
diverse, and secure supply of food.
  Although we near the end of the 109th Congress, I look forward to 
working with my colleagues and the Administration to consider this 
comprehensive and necessary legislation as we begin to discuss new 
initiatives for the 2007 Farm Bill.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague from 
Idaho, Senator Craig, in introducing the Specialty Crops Competition 
Act of 2006. I want to thank Senator Craig for his continued leadership 
on specialty crop issues. We have worked together for a number of years 
on legislation to promote American fruit and vegetable production and 
consumption of high quality, nutritious American-grown produce and this 
legislation is the next step in that process.
  Michigan is a State that makes things and grows thing. We are famous 
for our automobiles, and we are also known for our cherries, apples, 
blueberries, and asparagus. I am proud to represent a State that is 
rich in diverse agricultural production. In fact, Michigan is second 
only to California in the variety of crops that we grow. Furthermore, 
agriculture is one of the lynchpins of Michigan's economy. Our farms 
contribute $37 billion annually to the State economy and provide more 
than half a million good jobs. Our specialty crops alone generate 
nearly $1.3 billion every year.
  For far too long, specialty crops have been ignored by the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture. Specialty crops account for 51 percent of 
total national farm receipts but they do not receive the same subsidies 
or USDA consideration as program crops.
  I want to clarify that the Craig-Stabenow bill is in no way designed 
to take funding away from program crops, but rather to bring specialty 
crops up to the status of program crops. All of our farmers work hard 
and take a gamble every year to produce and receive a return on their 
crops. They gamble against heat, drought, frost, storms, pests, crop 
diseases, and most recently a flood of foreign produce to our markets. 
The Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2006 would give specialty crop 
farmers valuable tools to keep them competitive and productive in a 
global marketplace.
  Our bill creates a specialty crop block grant to State departments of 
agriculture at a level of $200 million annually in grants for fiscal 
years 2007-2009. The grants will support production-related research, 
commodity production, nutrition, food safety and inspection and other 
competitiveness enhancing programs. Each State will receive a minimum 
of $3 million each year, and a cap of $15 million annually per State is 
set to ensure funds for a competitive grant program, for which grower 
associations and others can apply. Our bill also fixes a longstanding 
misinterpretation of the Tree Assistance Program by ensuring that 
farmers who have lost trees and vines due to disasters or disease are 
eligible

[[Page S2691]]

for assistance of up to $75,000 per year and not $75,000 maximum over 
the life of the farm bill.
  Our bill also increases Federal purchases of fruits and vegetables 
for use on nutrition programs, such as the Commodity Food Supplemental 
Assistance Program. I have been a longtime supporter of nutrition 
programs because they are a win for farmers and a win for the most 
vulnerable of our citizens--children, seniors, and the poor. Specialty 
crop farmers benefit by having a market to which to sell their fruits 
and vegetables. And children, seniors, and those with low incomes 
receive healthy and balanced meals. One of the key provisions of the 
Craig-Stabenow bill is the correction of USDA's chronic 
misinterpretation of section 10603 of the 2002 farm bill. This section 
instructs USDA to purchase at least $200 million of fruits and 
vegetables annually over and above the purchases they currently make. 
Unfortunately, USDA is not complying with this provision. Instead of 
adding the $200 million on top of baseline spending for school lunch 
and senior programs, USDA has eliminated the baseline spending so there 
is no guarantee of any new spending on fruits and vegetables for our 
children. In fact, in 2002 USDA did not even meet the minimum purchase 
requirement; only $181 million in fresh fruits and vegetables were 
purchased. The Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act will correct this 
discrepancy and provide our Nation's children with much needed fruits 
and vegetables.
  In addition, the Specialty Crops Competition Act improves growers' 
access to foreign markets by requiring the Animal Plant Health 
Inspection Service, APHIS, to create a division to handle industry 
petitions on sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to specialty crop 
exports, increase technical assistance funding for specialty crops, and 
study the effects of recent trade agreements and propose a strategy for 
specialty crop producers to more effectively benefit from international 
trade opportunities.
  I am pleased to offer the Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2006 
with Senator Craig. This is just one more step in ensuring the future 
of specialty crop production in the United States. As the Senate begins 
work on reauthorization of the farm bill, Senator Craig and I will 
continue to work with specialty crop farmers and growers' associations 
to improve and expand this legislation. Supporting American specialty 
crop growers and providing nutritious fruits and vegetables to American 
people is vital to ensuring our own health and the health of our 
economy. I hope that my colleagues will join me and support the 
Specialty Crops Competition Act of 2006.

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