Senate Ag Committee Approves Buy American Bill
Today, legislation to strengthen Buy American policies for public school food purchases was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee in the California State Legislature. The bill, SB 1308, is authored by Senator Anna Caballero (D-Merced) and sponsored by Ag Council.
“California’s agricultural community achieves exceptional standards to ensure food safety, reduce water use, boost energy efficiency, carefully manage pesticide use, protect the health of workers, and provide the highest farm wages in the nation. SB 1308 supports California’s high standards by utilizing taxpayer dollars to purchase food products in compliance with these critical standards,” said Ag Council board member and California Canning Peach Association President and CEO Rich Hudgins, who testified as a witness during the hearing.
The measure clarifies Buy American compliance by prohibiting public schools from purchasing agricultural food products not grown, packed or processed domestically, unless the cost of the non-domestic product is more than 25 percent lower than the price of the domestic product.
Special thanks goes to Senator Caballero for her leadership as the author of the bill. Ag Council appreciates the following committee members who voted in favor of the bill today: Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), and Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda), in addition to Senator Caballero who is both the bill author and a member of the committee.
SB 1308 will next be considered in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee.
To read the press release about the legislation, please click the link below.
LEARN MORE ›