De La Cruz Hosts Farm Bill Panel in Beeville

WASHINGTON - This week, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz joined agricultural leaders from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Texas Farm Bureau, and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in Beeville for a panel discussion focused on the passage of the Farm Bill and priorities for Texas farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.

De La Cruz joined panelists Dan Hunter from USDA, James Redfield from USDA, Scott Frazier from Texas Farm Bureau, Stephen Diebel from Texas Southwestern & Cattle Raisers Association, and Jody Brown from Texas Farm Service Agency for a panel discussion on the importance of passing a strong Farm Bill.

Background:
In April, Congresswoman De La Cruz voted to advance the Farm Bill, which includes four of her legislative initiatives:

• Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act: Addresses the significant economic losses suffered by Texas agricultural producers due to the Mexican government's non-compliance with the 1944 Water Treaty.
• Southern Border Farmers and Ranchers Protection Act: Authorizes payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist farmers and ranchers with repairing damages to farming infrastructure caused by illegal criminal activity along the Southern border.
• Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program Enhancement Act: Mandates the USDA to enter into a contract to evaluate the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program with a land-grant college or university or a non-land-grant college of agriculture.
• Amendment to establish a permanent, interagency working group to protect South Texas farmers and producers from the impacts of the Mexican government's failure to comply with water deliveries under the 1944 Water Treaty.