{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=943", "Valadao, Bonamici Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Specialty Crop Exports", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Republican", "House", "CA", "David G. Valadao", "V000129", "valadao.house.gov", "valadao", "https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Reps. David G. Valadao (CA-22), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) introduced the Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act (Specialty CROP Act). The bill makes key improvements to the annual U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report to identify and combat unreasonable trade barriers more effectively.\n\nSpecialty crops are a cornerstone of California agriculture \u2013 the state produces the most specialty crops in the country both in quantity and diversity, with over 400 different commodities produced in the state per year. California is the top exporter of a wide range of specialty crops, including almonds, pistachios, and table grapes.\n\n\u201cSpecialty crop producers in California have faced many challenges over the last few years \u2013 from supply chain backlogs at our ports, rising input costs, labor shortages, and drought,\u201d said Congressman Valadao. \u201cMany of our California-grown specialty crops rely on customers overseas, but too often face unfair trade barriers that make it difficult to stay competitive. This bill will better identify trade obstacles so that American-grown specialty crops have fair access to foreign markets.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon is world famous for our specialty crops, and products like blueberries and hazelnuts make up a significant portion of our state's export economy. Unfortunately, growers face many barriers to foreign markets, which limit their competitiveness,\u201d said Congresswoman Bonamici. \u201cThe Specialty CROP Act will improve the USDA\u2019s existing specialty crops trade report to better translate its findings into meaningful action and policy. I\u2019m pleased to introduce this important bipartisan legislation with Senator Wyden and several colleagues in the House and Senate.\u201d\n\nSpecialty crops \u2013 fruits, vegetables, nuts, and more \u2013 are vital to Michigan\u2019s economy and to the livelihoods of the farmers that grow them,\u201d said Congresswoman Slotkin. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m co-leading the Specialty CROP Act. This bipartisan bill will help growers access foreign markets, while also analyzing potential barriers to success \u2013 a straightforward, common-sense step that will support our agriculture community.\u201d\n\nThe Senate companion version of the legislation was introduced today by Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.\n\nThe legislation makes improvements to the U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report, including to:\n\no Explicitly requires participation and engagement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR);\n\no Highlight specific trade barriers that limit the export competitiveness of specialty crops in specific markets, including tariff and non-tariff barriers;\n\no Include an assessment of whether each trade barrier is subject to a U.S. FTA or international agreement;\n\no Include specific information with respect to actions taken, or expected to be taken, by the U.S. government to address or resolve each trade barrier; and\n\no Require a request for comment from both the public and the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.\n\nRequire the report to be made public, while allowing for a classified annex in order to protect U.S. national security and economic strategy.\n\nContinue to define \u201cspecialty crop\u201d as \u201cfruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.\u201d\n\nRead a one-page summary of the bill here.\n\nRead the full bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://valadao.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=943"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0425536893308163, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}