House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	May 9, 2019 10:18 AM
From:	Representative Martin T. Causer and Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski
To:	All House members
Subject:	Pennsylvania Farm Bill Package

In the near future, the following bills will be introduced in the House to implement the PA Farm Bill proposal, which includes a comprehensive package of new initiatives, re-booted initiatives, funding opportunities and resources to support and expand the agriculture industry. We would welcome your co-sponsorship of any of the proposals. If you have any questions about the proposals, please contact Kerry Golden at 7-3396 or Destiny Zeiders at 2-2999.

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Document #1

Description:

PA Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account – sponsored by Rep. Martin Causer This bill will create the Pennsylvania Rapid Response Disaster Readiness Account and specific authority for the Department of Agriculture allocate funding to facilitate a quick response to agricultural disasters, including utilizing animal or plant health officials to contain an outbreak or threat, such as Spotted Lanternfly or Avian Influenza; or providing an immediate response to a foodborne illness.

Document #2

Description:	PA Preferred—Homegrown by Heroes – sponsored by Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski This bill will amend the existing PA Preferred agricultural commodities marketing program to bolster enrollment in the veteran farmer Homegrown by Heroes Program.

Document #3

Description:

PA Agricultural Business Development Center – sponsored by Rep. Russ Diamond To assist with agricultural business development and succession planning, this legislation will establish the Pennsylvania Agricultural Business Development Center within the Department of Agriculture, to serve as a resource to help every farmer create a business plan, transition plan, or succession plan to ensure the best chance of success.

Document #4

Description:	Butchering Operation Inspection Incentives – sponsored by Rep. Pam Snyder To incentivize access to meat processing inspections, this legislation will create a grant program to reimburse federal meat inspection costs for small or new processors and subsidize the first-time purchase of equipment needed for federal compliance.

Document #5

Description:	Conservation Excellence Program – sponsored by Rep. David Zimmerman To help farmers implement agricultural best management practices on their farm, this legislation will provide the State Conservation Commission with the authority to prioritize projects and provide technical assistance and funding through a mix of grants, low-interest loans, and tax credits.

Document #6

Description:	Agriculture Linked Investment Program – sponsored by Rep. Rich Irvin This legislation will revise and re-establish a low-interest loan program administered by the State Conservation Commission in conjunction with lending institutions for the implementation of agricultural and conservation best management practices.

Document #7

Description:	Agriculture and Youth Development Grants – sponsored by Rep. Pam DeLissio This legislation will revise and re-establish the former (expired) Agriculture and Rural Youth Development Program into a new grant program to fund youth organizations that promote development in agriculture, community leadership, vocational training and peer fellowship.

Document #8

Description:	Farm to School Grants – sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Hershey and Rep. Danilo Burgos Our legislation will revise and re-establish the existing Healthy Farms Healthy Schools program into the PA Farm-to-School Program, to provide grants for improving childhood nutrition while increasing exposure to agriculture for children in grades Pre-k through 5.

Document #9

Description:	State-Level Specialty Crop Block Grants – sponsored by Rep. Chris Rabb To compliment the federal Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, our legislation will establish a state-level Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, to invest in and encourage farming of high-priority crops like hemp, hops, and hardwoods that are not eligible for the federal grants.