Congressman Valadao Secures Citrus Funding

Press Release

Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) announced much needed assistance for California's citrus industry.

Monday evening, the House Committee on Appropriations released the Fiscal Year 2014 Omnibus Spending Bill. At Congressman Valadao's request, the Committee included an additional $20 million in funding to fight citrus greening within the omnibus spending bill.

Huanglongbing (HLB) commonly known as "citrus greening" is a disease that destroys citrus plants rendering entire crops unusable. Economically, HLB puts America's entire citrus crop at risk. At this time, there is no cure or treatment for citrus greening, and thus additional research is critical to the future of the Californian citrus industry.

Congressman Valadao explained, "This additional HLB funding will provide the industry with the resources to prepare for and limit the damage of citrus greening. Support for the citrus industry could not come at a better time. The prolonged freeze in December destroyed $424 million of citrus product and cost the industry within the San Joaquin Valley an additional $46 million in efforts to protect the 2013- 2014 crop."

These HLB funds, secured by Congressman Valadao, will be distributed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to support multiagency research and continue the fight against citrus greening.

"The funding in the Fiscal Year 2014 Agriculture budget reflects the Appropriations Committees' consideration of citrus greening disease as one of its highest priorities," said Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt. "Congressman Valadao and other members representing citrus growers across the nation have worked hard to gain limited funding, including an increase of $20 million for 2014, to fight this disease so that we can protect the agricultural interests and jobs that make up the $13 billion citrus industry in the United States."

Congressman David G. Valadao represents the 21st Congressional District, which includes Kings County and portions of Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties.

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