House Ag to Mark Up Bill to Extend WHIP+

On Tuesday, July 26, the House Agriculture Committee is expected to mark up a bill that would provide an extension for USDA’s Wildfire & Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP+) covering crop losses from 2020 and 2021 disasters. This extension is expected to include additional causes of loss, such as smoke-tainted wine grapes due to wildfires, as well as losses due to high winds, derechos, excessive heat, freeze (including from a polar vortex) and drought in counties designated by the Secretary. On a related topic, a spokesperson for the House Agriculture Committee said they are continuing to work on a new permanent disaster aid program but added that the extension of WHIP+ to cover 2020 and 2021 losses will fill the gap while those conversations are ongoing. Watch the mark up Tuesday here.