For Immediate Release: June 20, 2008
Contact: Karen Clifton
Phone: (559) 445-5532

Fresno, CA – Times are getting tougher for the Central Valley as a devastating water shortage is causing many growers to abandon their crops and leaving many people without jobs.  Assemblymember Juan Arambula (D-Fresno) announced legislation today that would help agricultural workers who have been affected by the drought.

AB 1107, sponsored by Arambula, will extend unemployment benefits to agricultural workers that have lost their jobs due to the water shortage and drought in the Central Valley.  The proposed bill would extend unemployment benefits through the end of the year and provide some relief to families who are already struggling to make ends meet.

“The agricultural industry is the heart of this state’s economy.  When our growers have to cut jobs or abandon farms, thousands of people lose their jobs.  That is why I am initiating AB 1107,” said Assemblymember Arambula. We have to make sure the resources are in place for those who work so hard to keep our economy running.”

According to Fresno County the drought has triggered more than $73 million dollars in agricultural losses and more than 500 jobs have been lost.  Arambula states that those numbers are expected to go up as we head into the summer season when water is vital to the agricultural industry.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently declared a state of emergency in the Central Valley, on June 12, 2008, due to the drought conditions in the Valley.  Earlier this week Assemblymember Arambula, along with Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter), sent a letter to the Governor urging him to provide more assistance, including food, for agricultural workers suffering the economic impacts caused by the water shortage and drought.

Arambula stated that the freeze of 2007 had devastating effects on the agricultural industry, leaving thousands of people without work and growers with tremendous losses.  AB 1107 is consistent to an earlier bill that was introduced to help ease the burden of freeze victims in 2007.

“The price of gas, food and other necessities is going up, making it even harder for those not working to support their families,” said Assemblymember Arambula.  “We have to make sure that those people who depend on our agricultural industry for work are able to continue to support their families during these tough times.”

The bill will be referred to Senate Rules Committee before it can move forward to Senate Labor.