YOUR TRUSTED AGRICULTURE SOURCE IN THE CAROLINAS SINCE 1974

FAIRVIEW, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 30: A helicopter lands in a front yard in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on September 30, 2024 near Fairview, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Lawmakers call for Bipartisan, Bicameral Ag Disaster Relief Funding after Hurricane Helene

Office of Rep. Deborah Ross

Raleigh, N.C. — Today, thirty-three lawmakers joined in a bipartisan push for disaster relief funding to prevent deep and lasting economic damage to the agricultural industry in the Southeastern United States.

The bipartisan, bicameral group of 33 lawmakers from Southeastern states, including many North Carolina lawmakers, are urging Congressional Leadership to work with them and the Biden administration to ensure disaster relief resources are made available to agricultural producers following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene for agriculture.

“To prevent deep and lasting economic damage to the agricultural industry in the southeastern United States, it is imperative that Congress make appropriations as soon as possible upon the completion of damage assessments to fully fund unmet agricultural disaster relief needs in our states and across the nation,” the lawmakers wrote. “Farmers and growers nationwide, not only those damaged by Helene, have now faced multiple growing seasons without sufficient federal support. Our constituents are counting on us to act swiftly.”

The letter was also signed by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Reps. Don Davis (NC-01), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Greg Murphy (NC-03), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Dan Bishop (NC-08), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), Alma Adams (NC-12) Wiley Nickel (NC-13), Jeff Jackson (NC-14), Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Drew Ferguson (GA-03), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Rich McCormick (GA-06), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Austin Scott (GA-08), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), Mike Collins (GA-10), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Rick Allen (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), Darren Soto (FL-09), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01).

“Federal agricultural disaster assistance is essential to help our States and our Nation recover. We urge you to work with the administration to ensure disaster relief resources are made available to our growers. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to working with you to secure these critical resources,” the group wrote.

Click here to read the letter.