Schumer, Clinton Call on President Bush to Help Specialty Crop Growers

Schumer, Clinton Call on President Bush to Help Specialty Crop Growers

New York's specialty crop producers still face major barriers to trade

Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton are calling on the President to support New York's specialty crop farmers trade their products overseas.

In a letter sent to President Bush, Senators Schumer and Clinton joined with a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues in calling on the President to provide much-needed funds in next year's budget for the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act which was designed to help U.S. specialty crop growers overcome the trade barriers they face when shipping their goods to markets in other countries. The President is expected to present his FY 2007 Budget in January.

The Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act addresses the fact that U.S. specialty crop growers continue to face serious tariff and non-tariff trade barriers in many international markets. As a result, specialty crop exports have remained stagnant, while imports have steadily increased over the past decade.

"New York's specialty crops are second to none and deserve a fair playing field in the world market. This funding would help to remove any barriers unfairly keeping New York products out of overseas markets," said Senator Schumer.

"New York has some of the most marketable specialty crops in the world. From apples to onions, many New York farmers have realized that specialty crops are very much in demand in restaurants and supermarkets across the country. But sadly they still face major barriers to trade with other countries," Senator Clinton said. "We passed the Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act specifically so we could help our farmers market their valuable products overseas. We hope that the President shares our support for local farmers and funds this important initiative."

[A copy of the letter is attached]

December 15, 2005

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

The Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act (PL 108-465) was signed into law on December 21, 2004. The Act is intended to support and increase the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops competitiveness in international markets, and to assure abundant and affordable supplies of these critical commodities domestically. As representatives of specialty crop growers across the nation, we request your support for funding programs under the Act in the FY 2007 federal budget.

The Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act authorizes funding to help solve the growing U.S. specialty crop trade deficit. The legislation authorizes block grants to State Departments of Agriculture, expanded research into environmentally sound crop protection alternatives, and measures to combat pest and disease infestations that can cause millions of dollars of damage to U.S. crops.

The Act addresses the fact that U.S. specialty crop growers continue to face serious tariff and non-tariff trade barriers in many international markets. As a result, specialty crop exports have remained stagnant, while imports have steadily increased over the past decade. The Act provides for a series of measures to overcome that trade deficit.

It is critically important that the U.S. maintain a strong domestic specialty crop industry capable of producing a nutritious, yet affordable, food supply for our dietary and national security needs. In order to achieve this goal, we must invest in initiatives designed to enable our growers to remain competitive in global markets.

PL 108-465 is a vital first step towards addressing the needs of U.S. specialty crop growers, and we ask that your FY07 budget reflect this important initiative.

Sincerely,

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=249862&&