Sens. Rick Scott & Raphael Warnock Lead Bipartisan Effort to Secure Immediate Agriculture Disaster Assistance Following Devastating Hurricane Season

The bipartisan pair urged key Senate leaders to approve an agriculture supplemental disaster package that meets the needs of farmers and ranchers in Georgia and Florida after another costly hurricane season

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Rick Scott and Senator Raphael Warnock urged Congressional leaders to approve an agriculture supplemental disaster package that meets the needs of farmers and ranchers in Florida and Georgia after two years of devastating natural disasters.

The lawmakers wrote, "…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."

The lawmakers continued, "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."

Read the full letter HERE.

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In addition to this supplemental, Senator Scott has been fighting to secure USDA block grants for Florida's farmers, ranchers and growers to aid in their recovery and support the state's agriculture industry since Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida in 2022 and caused significant agriculture losses. Following Hurricane Helene, Senator Scott led a bipartisan group of his Florida delegation colleagues in a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack supporting the State of Florida's request to issue a Disaster Declaration for Florida's counties that were impacted by Hurricane Helene and 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 storms. Read more HERE. Senator Scott spoke to President Biden and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack about the importance of USDA block grants during their meeting after Hurricane Helene in Keaton Beach on October 3. He stressed the importance of block grants again in his call with President Biden on October 10 and in his meeting with the president in St. Pete Beach on October 13.

Senator Scott is leading the call for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to fund disaster relief. Earlier this Congress, Senator Scott announced a bill with Senator Rubio to provide $20 billion for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund to ensure the agency has what it needs to provide immediate aid to communities.

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/casework for information or help with federal agencies like FEMA and the SBA, following Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Find more on state response efforts from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.

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