Tag: congress

The U.S. national rail strike has been postponed, not averted. The major railroads and the railroad workers’ unions have been at an impasse since the summer.

What does the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act have to offer farm interests?

The International Fresh Produce Association commends leadership of the House Committee on Education and Labor for its recent commitment to the health of U.S. children via the introduction of the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, which includes several of IFPA’s recommendations including expanding access to school meals, providing funding for school kitchen equipment, extending WIC benefits to age six, and researching the impact of meal times on fruit and vegetable consumption.

Today national and state agricultural leaders joined Republican Members of Congress – including U.S. Representatives Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jim Baird (R-IN), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Mike Simpson (R-ID) – to call on Congress to pass bipartisan workforce solutions to address the farm labor shortage in order to combat inflation.

In light of the final passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, International Fresh Produce Association Chief Public Policy Office, Robert Guenther issued the following statement: “The bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act (S. 3580) provides much needed relief for our nation’s ports, in particular for the fresh produce industry that relies heavily on reliable, efficient ocean transport of fresh produce.

One recurring element that is subject to the seesaws of partisan politics is the status of independent contractors versus paid employees, and it has a direct effect on truck drivers who deliver fresh produce.

During a U.S. House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research hearing titled “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Horticulture and Urban Agriculture,” International Fresh Produce Association was represented by two of its members, Brie Reiter Smith of Driscoll’s, Inc. and Marc Oshima of AeroFarms, as they shared their perspectives on issues ranging from technology, innovation, social impact, nutrition, research, natural resources, and more.

U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released text of the 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill overnight. The bill is expected to be voted on today by the House of Representatives.

WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer and House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Ranking Member Don Bacon (R-Neb.) wrote Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack about the 27% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

The SF Market – the Bay Area's source for fresh produce, welcomed Congressman James McGovern (D-MA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, to its Bayview Hunter's Point facility on Thursday, August 19 during the Representative's national listening tour to help advance a comprehensive nationwide plan to end food insecurity in America.