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On behalf of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, the largest business
advocacy organization in California’s Central Valley I would like
to submit the following statement for the record. 

The Central Valley is one of the most impoverished regions in
America. Our employment rate is well below the state and national
averages, and our region is, as it has always been, one of the last
to climb out of the recession, with employment only starting to
rise as of the last year or so. 
	
The valley has also been ravaged by one of the most unforgiving
droughts in centuries over the last few years. This natural
phenomenon caused massive layoffs in our region’s largest employer,
our Ag industry, with unemployment numbers in Fresno County
communities like Mendota rising to as high as 50%. 

On top of our unemployment issues we also recognize that the valley
has significant challenges when it comes to air quality, and the
effects of that issue on our residents. 
AB-32 seeks to reduce emission amounts to 1990 numbers by 2020,
this target, in our opinion, will have a significant impact on the
Central Valley, its economy, and most importantly its people. With
Agriculture being our largest economic engine, the imposition of
additional unfunded mandates on growers, processors and
distributors of Ag goods will have a negative impact on our region.


While we share the opinion that it is imperative that we improve
the air which our children, friends and neighbors breathe we must
also seek to do so in a way that ensures that we are protecting
their jobs, and allowing for the region to continue to prosper and
feed the world. 

We urge this committee and the California Air Resources Board to
consider the way in which the AB-32 standards and provisions are
implemented. We ask that you provide flexibility and the means by
which our Ag industry can comply in a way that is cost effective
and considerate of the economic challenges that we all face in the
region. We appreciate your time, and we thank you for visiting
Fresno to seek our input.