U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and a bipartisan, bicameral contingent of her colleagues urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately publish guidelines on administering billions of dollars in disaster relief aid for America’s farmers.
The 28 lawmakers seek an expedited rulemaking process for the $110 billion disaster relief package former President Joe Biden signed into law in December 2024 to provide agricultural disaster relief funding following several natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
They say it’s critical that the USDA efficiently deploys the $20.78 billion in agriculture disaster relief aid to critical areas across the nation, especially in the Southeast.
“Our agricultural producers are heavily relying on USDA to efficiently and fairly disperse this assistance,” the lawmakers wrote in a March 10 letter sent to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. “As you know, these natural disasters have caused irreparable damage to commodity and specialty crops, livestock, forestlands, and infrastructure, leaving farmers, ranchers, and foresters in desperate need of support.”
Among the lawmakers who joined Sen. Capito in signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), as well as U.S. Reps. Greg Murphy (R-NC), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and Don Davis (D-NC).
“Clear direction and quick action from the USDA on disaster payment structure would provide certainty and, in many cases, a lifeline for farmers to continue their operations,” wrote Sen. Capito and her colleagues. “Lack of clarity in the rulemaking process for natural disaster programs will prevent many farmers from fully utilizing the aid.”