Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, expressed his condolences over the death of Congressman Doug LaMalfa and commended his contributions to California and rural America.
"I'm devastated to hear of the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Doug LaMalfa," said Scalise. "A fourth generation rice farmer, he fought passionately for the region's agricultural community and small businesses. He also worked to bolster disaster recovery efforts and funding for rural schools. Doug was a hardworking team player and happy warrior, known to spread joy throughout Capitol Hill with his famous LaMaffles."
Scalise released a statement on his official website regarding the unexpected passing of Congressman Doug LaMalfa at age 65 due to natural causes. LaMalfa, a lifelong resident of Northern California and a fourth-generation rice farmer, had represented the state's 1st District since 2013 after serving in the state legislature. The statement highlighted LaMalfa's commitment to Western issues as the recent Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.
According to a 2024 State Agriculture Overview, California is responsible for producing most of the U.S.'s medium- and short-grain rice, with 467,000 acres planted statewide as per recent estimates from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The industry in areas such as Butte County supports over 25,000 jobs and significantly contributes to the economy through farming and related businesses. Although production levels have fluctuated due to water availability, the sector remains crucial for rural communities in Northern California.
The USDA reported that over 2 million farms comprise the U.S. agricultural sector, with rural areas hosting most operations and generating hundreds of billions in annual receipts. Federal programs provide disaster recovery aid exceeding $10 billion annually to support producers nationwide. Rural schools serve nearly 10 million students, receiving about 9 percent of their revenues from federal sources to meet operational needs.
Doug LaMalfa was a fourth-generation rice farmer from Northern California who earned a degree in Agriculture/Business from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He served in both the California State Assembly and State Senate before being elected to represent California's 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. As a Republican, he advocated for limited government and fiscal restraint while supporting agricultural and rural issues such as disaster recovery and wildfire prevention.
