Press Room
On The Issues
Photo Gallery
Committees
Just For Kids!
Floor Statements

Contact Stephanie
Flag Requests
Visit DC
Casework
Internships

Sponsored 109th
Co-Sponsored 109th
Sponsored 108th
Co-Sponsored 108th

About Stephanie
About South Dakota
House of Representatives
Thomas
Blue Dog Coalition
Veterans History
   Project

News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH ASKS HOUSE LEADERSHIP TO SCHEDULE FLOOR TIME FOR DROUGHT

Cites Hastert Pledge to let Americans know "the Federal Government is committed to helping all" affected by natural disaster

September 7, 2006, Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth (SD-AL) wrote to House Majority Leader John Boehner and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to request time on the House Floor to debate drought assistance for affected farm and ranch families in the Great Plains. The letter is part of Herseth's continued effort to get House leaders to recognize the drought as a natural disaster, and to treat those affected by the drought equitably.

Herseth's letter expressed dismay that the House schedule in September includes trivial issues such as banning horse slaughter, but has failed to find time for the pressing issue of drought relief. She noted that all Americans affected by natural disaster, whether rural or urban, should be treated equally. The letter cites a quotation from Speaker Hastert last year, in which he noted the importance of letting Americans know that "the Federal Government is committed to helping all of our affected residents rebuild and repair their lives" following Hurricane Katrina.

In reference to that quote, Herseth wrote, "It is particularly important that rural Americans know they will be treated equitably. The deafening silence by the House of Representatives is sending a powerful message that Congress is not committed to helping those rural Americans affected by this natural disaster."

As the top two officials in the House of Representatives, Hastert and Boehner are responsible for setting the House agenda and floor schedule. The letter is included below in its entirety.

# # #

Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America. She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota's interests: Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs and Resources.

September 7, 2006

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives
H232 U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable John A. Boehner
Majority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives
H107 U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Hastert and Majority Leader Boehner,

I trust that you had a productive and enjoyable recess and are, like me, eager to return to work in the Congress. I spent virtually every day of the August recess traveling throughout South Dakota. During that time, I met with hundreds of South Dakotans who are suffering from the historic drought conditions ravaging a significant portion of our country. Farms and ranches that have been held by families for generations are at risk of being lost, and with winter around the corner, many livestock producers have no hope of salvaging any hay or feed from their scorched pastures. The drought has caused many of our grain producers to concede that the year will be a complete and total loss.

As we begin the last scheduled work period in the Congress, I want to reiterate the need for the Congress to consider drought relief for the thousands of rural Americans affected by this natural disaster. If we can use the entirety of our first week back in session to consider unnecessary legislation to ban horse slaughter (which will, again, be a burden for farmers and ranchers in the Midwest and West), we ought to be able to make the time for floor consideration of legislation to provide relief for the farmers and ranchers suffering from the drought.

Nearly one year ago, on September 3, 2005, upon the passage of disaster assistance for the areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina, Speaker Hastert said, "Thousands of residents have seen their entire lives devastated and uprooted by this natural disaster. We want them to know that the Federal Government is committed to helping all of our affected residents rebuild and repair their lives."

This year, thousands of rural Americans are seeing their family farms and ranches devastated by natural disaster. As Speaker Hastert noted last year, it is important for the victims of a natural disaster to know that the Federal Government is committed to providing assistance to Americans in need. It is particularly important that rural Americans know they will be treated equitably. The deafening silence by the House of Representatives is sending a powerful message that Congress is not committed to helping those rural Americans affected by this natural disaster. The Congress should consider disaster relief for those suffering from drought before we recess for campaign purposes.

Again, I trust you enjoyed the August recess and I look forward to working with you to pass meaningful drought relief for the thousands of rural families affected by this natural disaster.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Herseth
United States Congress
South Dakota, at-large