Federal Appropriations Update

Congress has finally wrapped up its work on the appropriation bills for fiscal year 2024. On March 9, a bill containing six of the twelve annual appropriations bills was signed into law. This bill included funding for the Department of Agriculture. On May 23, a second bill containing the remaining six annual appropriations bills, including funding for the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) Certification of Label Approval (COLA processing), was signed into law.

As part of the 2024 Agriculture Appropriations bill, Winegrowers successfully advocated to increase funding for research on the impacts of wildfire smoke on winegrapes and on the wines made from smoke-exposed grapes. Winegrowers was also successful in having a provision included in the bill that prohibits the Food and Drug Administration from enforcing its Produce Safety Rule “Standards for the Storing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption” for winegrapes. This provision saves growers and vintners from onerous and costly monitoring, irrigation and record-keeping requirements. 

The 2024 Agriculture Appropriations bill also provides funding increases for research on grape genetics, small fruits, and sustainable specialty crops, and includes $215 million for specialty crop pests. In addition, the bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Health & Human Services to ensure that any recommendations in the upcoming “2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA)” related to alcohol consumption that deviate from the 2020 DGA are based upon peer reviewed, scientific and medical knowledge, and are provided with a transparent review process. 

On behalf of our members, Washington Winegrowers is advocating with the members of the Washington congressional delegation to continue wildfire smoke research funding and continue the prohibition on enforcement of the Produce Safety Rule for winegrapes as part of the 2025 Agriculture Appropriations bill