Late last week, U.S. Senators from the Southeast joined Senate colleagues, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, in expressing disappointment in Congress’ failure to deliver critical disaster aid to their states to assist in recovery efforts from natural disasters in 2018 and 2019. It has now been over six months since parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia were hit by Hurricane Michael. Typically, the federal government has stepped in to help victims recovering from natural disasters, but despite months of negotiations, efforts to advance funding have stalled over partisan disagreements. While the U.S. House did pass a disaster relief bill, it failed in the Senate.
Speaking on the House floor last week, Rep. Austin Scott from Georgia and a member of the House Ag Committee, urged the White House and Congress to put partisan politics aside and support the farmers they seem to have abandoned. In a phone interview with Tony St. James of All Ag, All Day in Texas, Scott had these comments:
To read a news release from late last Friday concerning the lack of disaster funding, click here.