For Immediate Release
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KOHL LAUDS BOOSTS FOR FLOOD & DISASTER ASSISTANCE, FOOD AID AND FDA IN HOUSE SUPPLEMENTAL BILL

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, US Senator Herb Kohl, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded the House version of the Emergency Supplemental spending bill unveiled this afternoon for including funding boosts for his priorities – flood and disaster assistance, international food aid, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  Negotiations between members of the House of Representatives and the Senate yielded the latest version of the legislation that contains funding for areas Senator Kohl identified as needing immediate federal resources. The Senator successfully worked to persuade the House to include these initiatives that had earlier been included in the Senate's version of the Supplemental.

 

"I am greatly encouraged that the House unveiled a Supplemental that does not overlook the need to provide much-needed relief to the areas of our nation affected by devastating floods, and boosts to address the global hunger crisis and ensure food and drug safety for Americans," Kohl said.

 

Flood and Disaster Assistance

In response to the storm-related flooding that has hit states throughout the Midwest hard, the legislation includes $1.297 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide disaster relief for affected regions and resources to support $267 million in Small Business Administration loans to home and business owners.  In addition, the measure provides $390.5 million for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) and $89.4 million for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).  The Watershed Protection Program, which is administered by the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service was set up by Congress to respond to emergencies created by natural disasters such as severe flooding.  All projects undertaken by the EWP must be sponsored by a state, city, county, local municipality or conservation district.  The ECP program, administered by the US Department of Agriculture, provides emergency funding and technical assistance for farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters. 

 

"Congress has a responsibility to provide the resources needed to begin the long process of recovery for our states devastated by floods.  These funds will help communities repair the vast damages and farmers recover land," Kohl said.

 

Food Aid & FDA Boosts

The legislation includes $1.245 billion for food aid and $150 million in additional funds for the FDA.  Of the total amount directed to food aid, $850 million would be added for this fiscal year to "Food for Peace," the nation's foremost global hunger program, over which Senator Kohl as Subcommittee Chairman has jurisdiction.  Though the FDA funding falls short of the $275 million boost Senator Kohl originally secured in the Senate version of the Supplemental, he remains optimistic that this increase is a step in the right direction.

 

"Without this funding for food assistance, we lose an opportunity to avert a widespread humanitarian disaster that can further erode stability throughout the world," Kohl said. "While this funding for the FDA may not address all the shortfalls, it is still a sizable increase offering hope that this critical boost to protect our nation's food and drug supply will be included in the final version of the Supplemental."

 

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