Vice President Gore Announces Emergency Funding to Help Protect California Grape Industry From Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter
June 23, 2000

Washington, DC – Vice President Gore and the Clinton Administration today announced that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is declaring an agricultural emergency in California and providing $22.3 million to help the State control and eradicate a non-native pest called the glassy-winged sharpshooter.

"Pierce’s disease -- caused by the glassy-winged sharpshooter -- is the greatest single threat facing the wine and table grape industries in California,” Senator Feinstein said. “I am extremely pleased that the Administration has stepped up to the plate to provide emergency funding to combat this outbreak.”

Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) called upon USDA Secretary Dan Glickman to immediately release funds to combat Pierce’s Disease, which were authorized by the Risk Management for the 21st Century Act. This act, which reformed the U.S. Crop Insurance Program, was signed into law by President Clinton on Tuesday.

“The glassy-winged sharpshooter injects bacteria that slowly chokes off a grapevine’s water supply and eventually destroys the vine,” Senator Feinstein said. “The bacteria has already devastated many vineyards in Southern California and is spreading northward to other wine-grape growing sections of the State. Earlier this year month, dozens of sharpshooters were discovered in Fresno County and, last week, the pest was found in the Livermore-area of Northern California. Clearly, this pest is spreading with alarming speed.”

As a member of the Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Feinstein has been a leader in the fight against invasive species which threaten both California and U.S. agricultural sectors. Senator Feinstein this year has helped to provide funding in the following areas: $7.14 to implement California Department of Food and Agriculture action plan to combat Pierce’s Disease; funding for 17 additional inspectors at the border to prevent import of invested agricultural products; $700,000 for USDA research for remedies to Pierce’s Disease; $500,000 for a University of California Center for Exotic Pest Research; and $1.5 million for the Viticulture Consortium, a competitive research grant program.