COVID-19 Rescue Package Approved by House Contains Nearly $10 Billion for Ag

Posted by David Eddy|March 27, 2020

The House of Representatives Friday approved the historic $2 trillion COVID-19 Phase 3 rescue package, which contains $9.5 billion for agriculture.

While details are still being released, features of particular importance to the fresh fruit, vegetable, and floral industries, according to the Produce Marketing Association, include:

Federal guaranteed loans totaling $350 billion to small businesses that pledge to not lay off workers. The loans would be forgiven if they continue to pay workers for the duration of the crisis. Here is a link to the details of the loan forgiveness program.
$15.8 billion in additional funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to cover food costs and any surge from the expected increase in unemployment and business closures.
$9.5 billion for USDA to provide funding for aid to agricultural producers, including fruit, vegetable growers, affected by the virus
$450 million for commodity food purchases for emergency food assistance through food banks and other nonprofit groups.
$33 million for FSIS to hire temporary and part-time workers

Here is the summary of each section of the package, including SNAP and agriculture funding, unemployment insurance, small business loans and other provisions. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature.