Earlier this year, both Representatives urged Speaker Dennis Hastert to bring to the floor legislation that would provide America’s farmers and ranchers with agriculture disaster relief. Hinojosa signed onto a discharge petition (H.R. 5099) that would require the House of Representatives to consider agriculture disaster assistance once a majority of Congress has signed it.
“This town hall is a wonderful opportunity for Congressman Peterson and I to hear directly from farmers and ranchers in the Rio Grande Valley about drought conditions, the Farm Bill, agriculture disaster assistance, and the state of the agriculture economy in South Texas,” said Hinojosa. “Agriculture disaster assistance needs to be considered by the House now. Farming and ranching are the engines driving our economy and now is the time to debate legislation that is comprehensive and will directly address the losses suffered from natural disasters.”
In 2005, 80 percent of all U.S. counties were declared primary or contiguous disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while 70 percent have already been declared disaster areas in 2006. This effort would provide emergency production loss and economic loss assistance for crops and livestock in 2005 and 2006.
A multi-year drought throughout several parts of Texas has resulted in losses totaling more than $1 billion. Already, 2006 has seen one of the worst droughts on record resulting in crop losses of $2.5 billion, and $1.6 billion in livestock losses. Cotton losses alone amount to $1 billion; and the smallest wheat crops were harvested since 1925 and production was its lowest since 1971.
“Problems affecting our farmers and ranchers should be addressed immediately,” Hinojosa continued. “Providing this assistance makes sense and will strengthen rural communities and our nation’s economy.”
The discharge petition has the support of the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and more than 30 other farm organizations.
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