The House of Representatives passed a $390 billion farm bill, which includes $50 million in assistance for specialty crops in Central Valley agriculture. Only 14 Democrats voted in favor of the legislation, including Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno). The bill includes $30 million for specialty crop research, $20 million for specialized crop automation research, and doubles funding for the foreign market access program. The bill now goes to the Senate. The California Fresh Fruit Association commended the bill's investments in research, trade promotion, pest and disease prevention and conservation programs. An amendment protecting pesticide makers from lawsuits related to cancer was removed from the final bill, a win for lawmakers opposed to pesticide use.