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

HERSETH TURNS UP PRESSURE ON SPEAKER TO SCHEDULE
VOTE ON DROUGHT RELIEF

House Republicans Continue to Ignore Rural America - Will Pay the Price in November

September 12, 2006, Washington, D.C. - With less than three weeks until Congress is scheduled to recess for the upcoming elections, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth increased the pressure on House Republican leaders to schedule a debate and vote on drought relief for South Dakota farmers and ranchers.

Herseth announced today that House Democratic Leadership, including Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, and Democratic Caucus Chairman James Clyburn joined her on a letter to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader John Boehner to make an official request for a vote on drought assistance. Herseth noted that she has worked for months to build bipartisan support, but with time running out on the legislative session, she wanted to use every available tool to force a vote on drought relief. "Just this morning I participated in a bipartisan rally for drought aid with Senators Johnson and Thune," Herseth noted. "But in the House, the Speaker and Majority Leader have refused to allow a vote on drought relief. With the November election on the horizon, Republican Leadership ignores rural America at its own peril."

In their letter, Democratic leadership called for debate and a vote on disaster assistance before Congress recesses for the upcoming elections. The leaders noted, "[t]he House Democratic Caucus recognizes the pressing, urgent need to provide this assistance in our rural communities, and we ask that you schedule time this month to debate and vote on a comprehensive agriculture disaster package." The statement of support by the Democratic Caucus provides a clear contrast to the opposition by Republicans leaders.

Herseth hopes this strong statement by House Democrats, coupled with the political trouble Republicans are facing in rural districts, will provide incentive for the Speaker and Majority Leader to drop their opposition to drought assistance and allow an up-or-down vote on the floor. With few legislative days left before the scheduled recess, Herseth is working to force Republican leaders to act before their incumbents return home to face voters disappointed by the obstruction of disaster assistance in the House.

"I will use every tool available to force the Speaker and Majority Leader to end the obstruction and allow a vote on drought relief," Herseth noted. "With their majority in jeopardy, the only thing the Republican leaders respond to these days is political pressure. And if it means getting drought relief to South Dakota farmers and ranchers, I'm willing to apply that pressure."

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