Newhouse Praises House Ag Committee For Moving WHIP+ Forward

Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse praised the House Ag Committee following the advancement of his legislation, reauthorizing WHIP+ for producers impacted by 2020 and 2021 disasters. Newhouse and California’s Mike Thompson, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Wine Caucus, introduced the legislation back in January. Newhouse said the WHIP+ Reauthorization Act builds on the current system and the current process.

“Of disaster assistance by including some of the things that we’re seeing right now.  Drought, temperatures, conditions that we don’t naturally or normally see.”

Newhouse added growers across the Pacific Northwest, and the entire west coast are well aware of the damage done by heat, drought and wildfire smoke. He said this Act is an effort to bring the disaster assistance program up to date with the conditions that producers are experiencing on the ground.

“I’m very happy that the Agriculture Committee moved this bill out of committee this week, and we’re gaining support by many members of Congress, and I’m pushing hard to make sure it becomes law, as soon as we can get it to the floor, to the Senate and to the President’s desk.”

“From extreme fires to historic drought, our district and our nation have seen devastating disasters this year and last year," Representative Thompson noted. "The Federal government must provide every tool and resource possible as we rebuild. That includes supporting family farmers and producers who had their crops ruined by smoke damage in the 2020 fires in our district."

Reaction from the farming community has been primarily positive.

“NMPF is grateful that the ANS approved by the House Agriculture Committee reauthorizes for calendar years 2020 and 2021 the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity and Milk Loss (WHIP-ML) Program which provides indemnity support to dairy producers for milk that was dumped or otherwise removed from commercial channels due to weather-related natural disasters including hurricanes, floods, and snowstorms,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation.

“Weather events and fires are continual threats to Pacific Northwest tree fruit orchards. The reauthorization and expansion of the WHIP program will potentially provide a new a tool to growers as they seek to manage the losses associated with these threats. We thank Representative Newhouse for continuing to advocate for our growers in Congress,” said Mark Powers, President, Northwest Horticultural Council.

“Wildfires and the potential for smoke exposure on winegrapes is a huge threat and sadly, we expect to see more up and down the West Coast. Congressman Newhouse has been listening carefully, and this relief is vital to our producers and the nation’s wine industry. Congressman Newhouse's legislation is a major win for Washington's winegrape growers, and we thank him, but we also call on the rest of Congress to back this needed legislation,” said Vicky Scharlau, Executive Director, Washington Winegrowers Association.

“On behalf of Washington's wine industry, I am grateful to Congressman Newhouse for his leadership to provide much-needed relief to our industry who are still working to recover from the impacts of last year's wildfires. With this year's fire season well underway, this legislation could not be moving forward at a more critical time. We urge Congress to support this important legislation,” said Josh McDonald, Executive Director, Washington Wine Institute.

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