Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Approbations Act, 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Chairman, the amendment my colleague Mr. Garamendi and I are offering simply decreases the funding for the Farm Service Agency by $11 million and increases it by the same amount. The intent of this amendment is to ensure that $11 million goes towards the Emergency Conservation Program, or ECP.

Mr. Chairman, you might wonder why I would decrease and increase the amount by the same amount, but in the arcane world of appropriations, it is the intent of Congress--and we want to make sure that the intent is there--to put this money into the Emergency Conservation Program.

The ECP helps farmers and ranchers during severe drought. They are able to use this program's funding to repair damaged farm land or install measures for water conservation.

My State of California has more than 80,000 farmers and ranchers, accounting for 15 percent of national receipts for crops and 77.1 percent for the U.S. revenue for livestock and livestock products. State exports totaled approximately $18 billion in value.

Unfortunately, California is experiencing a prolonged and serious drought. Conditions haven't improved. Snowpack and reservoirs are at historically low levels. This drought is a State emergency, and support will be needed through the rest of this year and next.

Our farmers and ranchers need every available resource right now, rather than responding after the fact when the damage is more severe. Programs like the ECP are critical for these farmers and ranchers in times of exceptional drought.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to my colleague from California (Mr. Garamendi).

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Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Chairman, our farmers need the assistance right now. I am glad that the House appears to be ready to take a vote.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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