News From…

Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California
 

Appointment will Allow Cardoza to Continue to Ensure Farm Bill Brings Equity to California’s Farmers and Makes Needed Reforms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2008		 CONTACT:  Jamie McInerney
(202) 225-6131

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives appointed Congressman Dennis Cardoza to the Conference Committee for the 2007 Farm Bill. He will be responsible for working out differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill, which passed last year.
 
“Finally. The appointment of conferees is a significant step towards completion of the Farm Bill,” said Cardoza. “In conference I will continue to ensure that California agriculture gets the respect and treatment it deserves. I am honored that Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues want me to help negotiate the final version of the Farm Bill and I promise to see this bill to fruition.”
 
As Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, Mr. Cardoza has worked to fund programs that are priorities to specialty farmers, conservationists, and nutrition advocates. This funding includes resources for research and pest detection, block grants, organic farming, farmer’s market promotion, the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP), and programs to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to school children. 
 
The Senate had previously designated its representatives on the conference committee.  With the naming of the House conferees, the two chambers can formally reconcile the different versions of the Farm Bill that were passed by the House on July 27, 2007 and the Senate on December 14, 2007. Informal negotiations at the staff level have been ongoing and the appointment of conferees signals that progress towards a final agreement is being made.   Once the conference report has been agreed to by the conference committee, the full House and Senate will vote on the final version of the bill, and it will go to the President for his signature.

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