Congressman Deutch (FL-21) has signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 853, the Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund Act of 2013.

The spread of the citrus disease called citrus greening is posing a significant threat to the growth and prosperity of citrus farming throughout the US and specifically Florida. With so many people across the country dependent on the citrus industry for stable work, it is necessary to protect these fruits against citrus greening. Since 2005, Florida has lost 8,200 jobs and suffered $4.5 billion in damages from this disease.

This bipartisan bill will establish a Citrus Disease Research and Development Trust Fund that will support scientific research to find a cure to this and other disease afflicting the citrus industry. The funding for this research will come from the creation of a tariff collected from imported citrus fruit capped at $30 million per year, but will not raise any taxes for the taxpayers. H.R. 853 will help to protect a vital industry and tens of thousands of jobs in Florida.

To read more about H.R. 853, click here.