Washington, DC – Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto) is continuing his efforts to help San Bernardino County receive federal disaster assistance following this month’s extreme weather and freezing conditions that caused devastating losses to agriculture and businesses in the area.

San Bernardino County officials estimate that the damages to the County will exceed $11 million.  The cold weather was especially harmful to the local navel orange, Valencia orange, grapefruit and avocado crop.  The disaster is taking its toll on the local economy and affecting many growers, agricultural suppliers, laborers and small businesses.

Rep. Baca today contacted both the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Area 4 Director Alfred Judd, sending them letters describing the damage to San Bernardino County and asking them to support Governor Schwarzenegger’s request to designate the County as a disaster area.  That designation would enable those in San Bernardino affected by the freeze to receive federal help, including assistance from the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

Rep. Baca wrote, “…our growers have done everything in their power to limit their losses and salvage their family farms.  They are a huge part of our local economy, and long months of rebuilding and insecurity lie ahead for our business owners.”  He added that “now the federal government must do its part.”

Earlier this month, Rep. Baca – who is the senior Californian on the House Agriculture Committee and the newly appointed Chairman of the Ag Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry -- spearheaded a bipartisan letter signed by all California Members of Congress to Secretary Johanns asking the USDA to expedite all relief petitions being submitted by California. 

Today Rep. Baca also met with A.G. Kawamura, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.  Secretary Kawamura thanked Congressman Baca for his leadership in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expedite disaster relief requests from County and state farmers and ranchers.