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Duval Times

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Scott & Warnock seek disaster aid for hurricane-hit farms

Senators Rick Scott and Raphael Warnock are leading a bipartisan effort to secure an agriculture disaster assistance package for farmers and ranchers in Florida and Georgia. The call for aid follows two years of severe natural disasters that have impacted the agricultural sectors in these states.

The senators stated, "…Both of our states have been heavily impacted by natural disasters over the last two years, leaving farmers and ranchers with decimated crops and wrangled infrastructure. Most recently, Georgia’s cotton, pecan, and timber crops were flattened by Hurricane Helene, and Florida’s citrus and vegetable crops were devastated after Hurricane Milton."

They also emphasized the need for flexibility in funding: “We also ask that you consider structuring a portion of this funding in the form of state block grants to ensure our states’ Departments of Agriculture flexibility in efforts to assist our farmers and ranchers, including our specialty crop and timber producers.”

Senator Scott has been advocating for USDA block grants since Hurricane Ian struck Southwest Florida in 2022. He led efforts within his delegation to urge USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to issue a Disaster Declaration following Hurricane Helene. Scott highlighted the significance of these grants during meetings with President Biden on multiple occasions.

In Congress, Senator Scott introduced legislation alongside Senator Rubio to allocate $20 billion to FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund. This aims to ensure immediate aid is available for affected communities.

For Floridians seeking assistance or information on federal agency support post-Hurricanes Milton and Helene, resources are available on Senator Scott's website or through the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

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