Press Release

May 25,2005

AMENDMENT COMES TO THE AID OF MILLER AND SEMINOLE COUNTIES

WASHINGTON, D.C. This afternoon in the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Sanford Bishop offered an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations Report in order to address the emergency needs of Miller, Seminole and Wayne Counties. 

The amendment, which was accepted by the committee and will be voted on by the full House of Representatives next month, directs the Department of Agriculture to assess the cumulative damage of last year’s devastating hurricanes as well as the recent tornadoes that have displaced families across the impacted counties.   The amendment also instructs the Rural Housing Authority to give priority consideration to requests for housing assistance in these regions.

“Unfortunately we can not make up for the full extent of the devastation that mother nature has caused this last year,” said Congressman Bishop, “But we are exhausting every option to get our families, our farms and our businesses the relief they so desperately need.  I am pleased that my colleagues recognized this importance in accepting my amendment and I expect this support to continue when the bill reaches the House floor.”

While Governor Purdue declared Miller, Seminole and Wayne Counties in a “State of Emergency” after severe weather struck last March, a federal declaration was not made.  Without such a declaration of need, Federal intervention/assistance is not available.  Congressman Bishop’s amendment works with the Department of Agriculture to find another means of Federal assistance through the Department’s Rural Development Agency, which helps rural individuals, communities and businesses obtain financial and technical assistance.

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