U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) on June 22 introduced a bipartisan bill that would authorize research and development regarding a policy that would insure wine grapes against losses due to smoke exposure.
“Washington state’s wine industry produces some of the best wine in the nation, and we need to keep it that way,” said Rep. Newhouse, co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus. “Right now, the industry faces billions of dollars in losses from wildfires and smoke exposure.”
Rep. Newhouse signed on as the lead original cosponsor of the Farm Crop Insurance Act, H.R. 4308, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and 10 other original cosponsors.
“I am proud to cosponsor this critical legislation that will ensure our winegrape growers and producers get the necessary funding to be resilient and continue to produce high-quality wine.”
If enacted, H.R. 4308 would require the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation within a year of the bill’s enactment to carry out R&D or offer to enter into one or more contracts with one or more qualified persons to carry out R&D regarding a policy to insure wine grapes (including those produced in the states of California, Oregon, and Washington) against losses due to wildfire smoke exposure, according to the text of the bill.
“Wine grapes are essential to economies across our country, and states like California, Oregon, and Washington have been disproportionately exposed to wildfires leading to smoke exposure impacting our wine grapes,” Rep. Thompson said. “Researching the impact that smoke has on our wine grapes and other crops is essential in advancing solutions that will protect these key economic drivers from future natural disasters.”
Wine grapes exposed to smoke from wildfires can introduce compounds into the wine-making process that cause smoky, ash-like flavors and result in wines unfit for commercial sale, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
H.R. 4308 also would help mitigate future financial losses in key areas of production, the summary says.
The bill has been referred to the U.S. House Agriculture Committee for consideration.