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Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Preserve Agricultural Fairs in Central Washington

April 9, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Billy Long (R-MO), and Mike Levin (D-CA) reintroduced the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act, a bill to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country and offset the devastating financial losses they have experienced due to COVID-19. The Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act will provide grant funding for agricultural fairs through state departments of agriculture to keep them functioning and preserve them for the future.

"Not only do fairs give us an opportunity to come together and better understand where our food comes from, but they also serve as an economic opportunity for many of our rural communities by supporting thousands of jobs and giving farmers a way to promote their products. Fairs in Central Washington and around the country generate billions of dollars that simply cannot be replaced or recouped without the ability to operate," said Rep. Newhouse. "I am proud to work with my colleagues Representatives Jimmy Panetta, Billy Long, and Mike Levin to introduce legislation that provides much-needed relief grants to fairs that are unable to generate any revenue due to COVID-19. The federal government can and must take such measures to prevent unmitigated and devastating losses to these vital sectors of local agricultural economies, which are prohibited from operating by state government mandates."

"Due to the pandemic, our annual fairs not only lost out on operating in many of our communities on the Central Coast, we also missed out on the sense of community provided by those very same fairs." said Rep. Panetta. "My bipartisan Agricultural Fairs Act would provide federal funding to assist these fairs in making up their lost revenue over this past year and help put those fairs back into our communities this coming year. Having grown up going to many of our local fairs, my legislation is meant to secure their continued success and ensure that our fairs continue to play a part in our culture."

"It is rare indeed if a person doesn't have fond childhood memories of their county and state fairs. Fairs play a vital role in U.S. agribusiness by supporting thousands of jobs and giving farmers a way to promote their products," said Rep. Long. "Our fairs have suffered very substantial, if not devastating, losses due to COVID-19. I am proud to work with my colleagues, Congressman Jimmy Panetta, Congressman Dan Newhouse, and Congressman Mike Levin to introduce legislation that offers critical and strategic relief to a vulnerable industry in dire need of our assistance."

"Almost every family has cherished memories of attending a fair in their community - my own family looks forward to the San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds each year - which serves as a critical economic opportunity for local businesses and agricultural producers," said Rep. Levin. "However, many fairs have experienced devastating financial losses as a result of this pandemic. We need to step up and help protect these fairs for future generations, and the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act will provide that much-needed lifeline. I am proud to join Representatives Panetta, Long, and Newhouse introducing this bipartisan legislation on behalf of agricultural fairs across the country."

Click here for the full text of the bill.

Background:

The Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act authorizes $500 million in Agricultural Fair Rescue Grants for agricultural fairs, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The AMS will provide the grant funding to states or state departments of agriculture based on the loss of attendance those fairs have experienced in 2020.

Issues:Agriculture