Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Introduces Hurricane-Assistance Bill for Agriculture Producers
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart Introduces Hurricane-Assistance Bill for Agriculture Producers
WASHINGTONCongressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) today introduced legislation to assist agriculture producers that were impacted by the devastating destruction of the 2005 hurricane season. Assistance will be available only to producers in federally declared disaster areas as a result of Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Senator Mel Martinez has introduced the same legislation in the Senate.
"This year's hurricane season dealt a crippling blow to this state's agriculture," Diaz-Balart said. "Agriculture production is Florida's second-leading industry behind only tourism, so these storms really hit us where it hurts. Along with Senator Mel Martinez, I am introducing the House version of this comprehensive bill to provide assistance to a critical industry that is badly struggling right now. No relief program currently exists to help farmers recover from hurricanes. Recovery will not be quick or easy, but this will help ease the process."
This legislation includes crop disaster assistance, programmatic changes and temporary housing assistance for displaced farmworkers.
Florida, which leads the southeast in farm income, sustained more than $2.2 billion in agriculture damages from the 2005 hurricane season, according to statistics provided by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. More than 648,000 people depend on agriculture production for their jobs and livelihood.
http://www.house.gov/mariodiaz-balart/news/2005news/111505_agbill.htm