Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott and a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers have requested that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issue a Disaster Declaration for counties in Florida affected by Hurricane Helene. In a letter addressed to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, the delegation also urged the secretary to provide immediate assistance through state block grants to support the recovery of Florida's farmers and agricultural producers.

Joining Senator Scott on the letter are Senator Marco Rubio and Representatives Michael Waltz, Cory Mills, Matt Gaetz, Bill Posey, Kathy Castor, Kat Cammack, Neal Dunn, Mario Diaz-Balart, Scott Franklin, Maxwell Frost, Darren Soto, John Rutherford, and Greg Steube.

The letter states: "We write in support of the State of Florida’s request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue a Disaster Declaration for Florida’s counties that were impacted by Hurricane Helene and urge you to make assistance available immediately in the form of state block grants to expedite support for Florida’s farmers and agricultural producers as they recover from the destructive impacts of the storm."

Florida's role in the American food economy is emphasized in their appeal: "Florida’s growers play a critical role in the American food economy. As one of the few states where major agricultural production can occur in the winter and spring months, Florida’s farms provide fresh, domestically grown food to over 100 million Americans along the eastern seaboard when it’s needed most."

The delegation underscored the urgency of their request: "To support the growers and producers who were affected by Hurricane Helene and to ensure that they can recover from losses and continue their important service of feeding America, the expeditious approval of a Disaster Declaration is necessary to have a successful winter and spring harvest season."

Senator Scott's office has made resources available for Floridians needing assistance with federal agencies or issues related to Hurricane Helene recovery. More information can be found on his official website or through the Florida Division of Emergency Management.