Two Florida congressmen--Republican Ted Yoho and Democrat Darren Soto--teamed up at the end of last week to ensure the U.S. and Israel continue to have strong ties on agriculture.
Soto brought out the “United States- Israel Agriculture Strategic Partnership Act" with Yoho, who worked as a large animal veterinarian before being elected to Congress in 2012 and who sits on the House Agriculture Committee, as the chief sponsor. The bill ensures the U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD) program, is protected by law. Despite being founded in 1977, BARD currently is based on a memo of understanding between the two nations.
In the past four decades, BARD has backed more than 1,300 projects. Yoho and Soto noted that ten of those projects alone added $440 million to the U.S. and $300 million for Israel.
Yoho made the case for his proposal at the end of last week.
"With an ever increasing global population, it is important that agricultural best practices are shared between nations,” Yoho said. “The U.S.- Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development program is important to meeting the agricultural needs of our two countries. Conducting research on how best to increase agricultural productivity in all climates, while emphasizing plant and animal health, food quality, and safety, not only benefits our two countries but the world.”
“BARD advances research that feeds and enriches our two countries,” Soto said. “This bill puts BARD on a firm footing – it is a forward-looking, commonsense, bipartisan solution, supported by experts and advocates. And it strengthens our relationship with our best ally in the Middle East: Israel.”
The bill does have solid support from the Florida delegation. Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz from the Panhandle is co-sponsoring the measure. Florida Democrats U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist, Ted Deutch, Lois Frankel, Alcee Hastings and Debbie Wasserman Schultz are also behind the proposal as co-sponsors. The bill was assigned last week to the House Agriculture, Appropriations and Foreign Affairs committees.
