Newhouse Others Call For Reauthorization of MAP & FMD

On Tuesday, Representative Dan Newhouse led 43 members in a bipartisan request that market development programs be reauthorized.  The Bipartisan request was sent to House Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson.  The letter expressed strong support for the USDA’s trade and export market development programs.

The request specifically targeted the reauthorization of Market Access Program, better known as MAP as well as the Foreign Market Development Program, FMD.  On top of that the letter also included provisions from Newhouse’s H.R 2321, the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agriculture Trade and Exports Act.

The Members wrote: “American agriculture and American workers continue to face increasingly strong international competition supported by government-sponsored activities. A major study completed in November 2017 on behalf of several U.S. agricultural export market development organizations found that twelve countries and the European Union (EU) central government alone spent an estimated $943 million on agricultural export promotion for agrifood products in 20161. In comparison, the U.S. spent an estimated $239 million in total for export promotion through MAP, FMD, and other programs in 2016, which was nearly 12 percent lower than 2011 levels. The U.S. is being outspent nearly 4 to 1 by these twelve countries and the EU central government—an increase of 70 percent in real competitive public spending since 2011. While other governments are investing more in global food and agricultural markets, inflation, sequestration, and administrative costs are chipping away at U.S. funding.”

The Letter continued: “We again ask as your Committee begins consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill that we can continue to work with you to reauthorize and expand these crucial agricultural market development programs to reassert the importance of America’s agricultural producers and retain its edge in an increasingly competitive global economy.”

Northwest lawmakers that signed off on the request includes, Washington’s Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Dave Reichert, Oregon’s Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici as well as Idaho’s Mike Simpson.

Click Here to read the entire letter.

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