Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the amendments en bloc and specifically on the amendment introduced by me, Representative Valadao, and Representative Costa.

Across my district and in many wine-producing regions of our country, growers are facing a growing threat from a vector known as the glassy- winged sharpshooter, an invasive pest that spreads Pierce's disease amongst the grapevines and kills vineyards.

For many communities, wine grapes are not just a crop. They are the cornerstone of local economy, supporting farmers, small businesses, tourism, and thousands of jobs.

In California alone, the wine community generates sizeable tax revenues at the local, State, and Federal level.

In 2025, the wine economy generated nearly $85 billion in economic activity and paid nearly $6.5 billion in State and local taxes and almost $8 billion in Federal taxes.

If we fail to act, the consequences will be severe. Vineyards that have taken years to establish can be damaged or destroyed, threatening livelihoods and putting significant economic activity at risk.

This amendment recognizes that reality. While it does not provide the funding itself, it sends an important signal as the House and Senate--

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Mr. THOMPSON of California.--as the House and Senate move toward conference, that additional resources are needed to combat this invasive pest and protect American agriculture, communities, and our economy.

We can pay this now or we can pay a lot more and suffer the devastation if we delay.

Mr. Chair, I urge all my colleagues to support this.

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