Letter to Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman

July 29, 2003
Secretary Ann Veneman
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Veneman:

I write to bring to your immediate attention the economic crisis confronting the asparagus industry in Washington state and to express my frustration over the lack of progress and the length of time that it has taken to implement Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for farmers. Additionally, I encourage the Department of Agriculture to consider immediate steps to help asparagus farmers injured by imports including USDA asparagus purchases.

As you know, a new TAA program for farmers was signed into law by the President as part of the Andean Trade Preference Expansion Act of 2002 almost a year ago. It is unconscionable that the USDA and the Administration have taken a full year to implement this program that was a significant factor in Congressional consideration of the trade legislation.

I am especially concerned about the program's implementation because of the possible benefits which it may provide to the asparagus growers of Washington state. The Washington state asparagus industry has been devastated by the decision of the Del-Monte company to purchase asparagus from Peru and other countries and the company's decision to close their asparagus processing facility in Toppenish, Washington.

Farmers and producers injured by imports should not have to wait more than a year for USDA to implement a program that enjoys bipartisan support in Congress and was signed into law by the President. The TAA for Farmers implementation delay at the USDA jeopardizes $90 million in funding for fiscal year 2003 which ends in a few months.
Failure to implement this program as soon as possible will deny benefits to injured farmers in my state and across the country that they are eligible to receive. If this money is to be used, your department must implement the program within weeks.

Washington asparagus farmers need immediate attention and assistance from the USDA to find and develop new markets for their crop or to transition to other production. While TAA for farmers is one program that will help, I encourage the USDA to look into additional ways to help these farmers. The purchase of asparagus by the USDA will also buy these farmers valuable time to find new markets.

Once again, I urge the Department of Agriculture to immediately explore immediate assistance to the Washington state asparagus industry. I look forward to your prompt reply to this request and USDA advocacy for asparagus farmers.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray
United States Senator