Yoho and Soto Introduce Bill to Preserve Program that Strengthens U.S. AND Israel Agricultural Economies

Statement

Today, Congressmen Ted S. Yoho (R-FL) and Darren Soto (D-FL) introduced the United States-Israel Agriculture Strategic Partnership Act, (H.R. 2659). This bipartisan bill authorizes the U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD) program, founded 40 years ago.

"With an ever increasing global population, it is important that agricultural best practices are shared between nations. The U.S.- Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development program (BARD) is important to meeting the agricultural needs of our two countries. Conducting research on how best to increase agricultural productivity in all climates, while emphasizing plant and animal health, food quality, and safety, not only benefits our two countries but the world," said Congressman Yoho.

BARD has funded over 1,300 projects. An independent economic review team estimated the benefits of just 10 of these projects at $440 million to the United States, and $300 million to Israel. That return alone more than pays for all the total investment into BARD since its inception in 1977.

"BARD advances research that feeds and enriches our two countries. This bill puts BARD on a firm footing -- it is a forward-looking, commonsense, bipartisan solution, supported by experts and advocates. And it strengthens our relationship with our best ally in the Middle East: Israel," said Congressman Soto.

This bill is needed because only a memorandum of understanding between the governments of Israel and the United States keep this critical program running; there is no protection of it under federal law. HR 2659 currently has eight bipartisan co-sponsors and funds programs in over 25 states; including Florida, South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Arizona, and Massachusetts.

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