Missouri Ag Connection - Senate Passes Disaster Bill with Flood Recovery Assistance

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Senate Passes Disaster Bill with Flood Recovery Assistance
Missouri Ag Connection - 05/24/2019

The U.S. Senate passed a disaster supplemental bill that included funding for flood recovery.

According to release from U.S. Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska and U.S. Senator John Hoeven from North Dakota, the legislation provided assistance to farmers and others impacted by disasters across the Midwest:

The legislation included $3 billion in Farm Disaster Assistance for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Secretary (OSEC) to cover crop losses stemming from 2018 and 2019 natural disasters. The funding will be administered through OSEC's Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP).

Provisions include:

Agriculture

- $3,005,442,000 for crop losses

- $435 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program in the Natural Resources Conservation Services

- $558 million for the "Emergency Conservation Program"

Economic Development

- $600 million for the Economic Development Assistance Program

Army Corps of Engineers

- $1 billion for the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies account in the Corps of Engineers

Defense

- $670 million for the Air Force Operations and Maintenance in support of disaster relief and recovery

- $1 billion for Air Force Military Construction

- $42 million for National Guard Military Construction

Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst said of the Senate bill passage, "Farmers and ranchers are one step closer to receiving crucial disaster aid thanks to the vote today in the United States Senate. This disaster package provides needed funding to those impacted by natural disasters over the last several months, including our friends and neighbors here at home who have been devastated by flood waters. We are grateful to Senator Roy Blunt and Senator Josh Hawley for their support of this legislation and their strong stance for Missouri agriculture. Senator Blunt's work on the appropriations committee was crucial in securing provisions that will help with losses of on-farm stored grain, assist farmers with situations of prevented planting and provide crucial levee repair. We look forward to seeing this package move through the House swiftly so that farmers can receive aid as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing, Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri talked with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan about what the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can do to help Missourians recover from Wednesday's storms. McAleenan told Hawley that FEMA will support state and local authorities to assess damage and help people on the ground.

Hawley then announced he would no longer be heading to the southern border with HSGAC members Thursday and instead will be heading back to Missouri as soon as possible.

Hawley also told McAleenan that Missouri needs federal assistance to help rebuild communities, farms, and towns impacted by recent flooding. Earlier this week, Senator Hawley introduced two bills to give farmers more say in management of the Missouri River and to make flood control the number one priority in the Army Corps' master manual.

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