Kings County Times

Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) and Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) have introduced the Farm to Market Road Improvement Act. The legislation aims to address the impact of heavy agricultural freight on local road and bridge infrastructure in dense agricultural areas by making additional federal resources available for repairs.

“The Central Valley plays a critical role in the security of our nation’s food supply,” said Congressman Valadao. “But after years of wear and tear from heavy trucks transporting the food that feeds the world through our roads, many are in desperate need of repair. This bill would make counties throughout the Central Valley eligible for additional federal resources to fix roads that are critical to our food supply chain. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to improve local infrastructure and support jobs throughout our community.”

Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick emphasized the importance of road integrity for both economic and community well-being, particularly in agricultural regions like the Glades. “Ensuring the integrity of our roads is crucial for the economy and well-being of communities in the Glades, where agriculture remains a vital industry," she stated. "By investing in the infrastructure that supports our local farmers, we are not only securing the safe transport of their goods but also strengthening the supply chain that feeds our nation."

The introduction was supported by Congressmen Vince Fong (CA-20) and Jim Costa (CA-21). Congressman Fong highlighted the necessity of maintaining these roads for both agricultural distribution and daily commutes. “In the Central Valley, we see firsthand the necessity of roads to distribute fresh food throughout our transportation infrastructure,” he said.

Congressman Costa underscored how essential farm-to-market roads are for rural communities, stating, “Farm to market roads are critical for our rural communities as they are able to effectively and efficiently transport our agricultural goods to market."

The bill has garnered support from several organizations including Tulare County Association of Governments, Kings County, California Farm Bureau, American Farm Bureau, and Palm Beach County.

“Congressman Valadao’s bill will significantly increase federal funding availability to rural counties like Tulare County,” said Rudy Mendoza, Chairman of Tulare County Association of Governments.

The Farm to Market Road Improvement Act proposes a 10 percent set aside in the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program specifically for farm-to-market roads. These would be defined as roads within counties with an annual gross agricultural production value of at least $1 billion and production value per square mile exceeding $500,000.