WASHINGTON, DC— Today, U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) led a letter with Members of the entire Tennessee Congressional Delegation, U.S. Reps. Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Tim Burchett (TN-02), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Andy Ogles (TN-05), Mark Green (TN-07), David Kustoff (TN-08), and Steve Cohen (TN-09), as well as Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, urging U.S. House and Senate leadership to provide meaningful disaster relief for Tennessee farmers in the weeks ahead.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend of Florida as a Category 4 storm. While assessments are ongoing, Helene is on track to become one of the deadliest and most devastating hurricanes to hit the United States. In the letter, Members of the Tennessee Delegation highlighted the important role federal agricultural disaster assistance will have in helping Tennessee farmers recover.
An excerpt of the letter reads:
“In Tennessee, some areas received nearly 10 – 15 inches of rainfall in addition to runoff from surrounding states, drowning crops and littering fields with debris. Ruined ready-to-harvest crops and forage, flooded pastures, equipment loss, and distressed livestock have left farmers questioning how their operations will move forward and how they will provide for their families. Producers, who are already engulfed by the ongoing farm financial crisis, will require meaningful disaster assistance to stand up their operations and continue farming.”
Rep. Rose released the following statement:
“The Biden-Harris Administration has continuously put American agriculture on the backburner, and it is time for Congress to stand up for farmers and support our most critical industry,” Rep. Rose said. “We must be prepared to use all data and assessments to craft suitable and effective disaster relief legislation for producers.”
The letter, which can be read in full here, also urges leadership to work with the necessary stakeholders, as well as the Biden-Harris Administration, to assess and ultimately provide adequate disaster relief for growers and livestock owners.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://johnrose.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-john-rose-leads-call-urgent-aid-farmers-devastated-helene