ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 8, 2007

FRESNO – Federal lawmakers announced bills yesterday to provide more than $1.2 billion in grants, low-interest loans and assistance to growers and workers affected by a recent crop freeze, last year's heat wave and flooding.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., introduced a bill yesterday that would speed help to communities that lost an estimated $1.2 billion last month in oranges, tangerines, avocados and other crops nipped by the cold. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, planned to introduce a similar bill by tomorrow.

“We have communities that are now experiencing, as a result of the freeze, in excess of 50, 60, 70 percent unemployment,” Costa said.

The bills would help growers and workers in 22 counties declared disaster areas by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Bob Sanders, a Costa spokesman. State officials have urged President Bush to declare a disaster in several counties and extend federal money to help workers with unemployment assistance and food stamps.

The bills propose raising disaster payouts to farmers to $125,000. Typically, disaster aid bills limit farmers to $80,000 each. Lawmakers also proposed providing food coupons, housing assistance and grants to farmworkers, Costa said.

More than 20,000 field and packinghouse workers lost their jobs, and rural communities in the San Joaquin Valley's citrus belt have struggled to keep their food banks stocked, according to the United Farm Workers union.

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