Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 662) to amend the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 to improve disaster relief funding for agricultural producers, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 662

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023 AMENDMENT.

Title I of the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 (division N of Public Law 117-328), is amended, in the matter under the heading ``Office of the Secretary'' under the heading ``Processing, Research and Marketing'' under the heading ``AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS'' under the heading ``DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'' , by inserting ``: Provided further, That the Secretary of Agriculture may provide assistance for losses described under this heading in this Act in the form of block grants to eligible States and territories'' before the period at the end. SEC. 3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.

(a) In General.--This Act and the amendments made by this Act are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).

(b) Designation in Senate.--In the Senate, this Act and the amendment made by this section are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4001(a)(1) of S. Con. Res. 14 (117th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2022.
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Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, this bill, led by my colleagues Representatives Scott Franklin and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, both of the Sunshine State as well, has the support of the entire Florida delegation, which is very urgently calling, on behalf of the citrus producers in our State, to pass this bill.

Hurricane Ian impacted more than 375,000 acres of citrus groves, costing nearly $675 million in damages to the industry. More than 90 percent of all Florida citrus production was impacted by tropical storms in 2022. I will repeat that because I think it bears repeating: More than 90 percent of all Florida citrus produce was impacted by tropical storms in 2022.

In December of last year, Congress appropriated $3.7 billion, with a b, to address agricultural losses from hurricanes and other natural disasters. However, to date, no citrus grower has received any of the agricultural disaster relief funds. None.

When speaking to Secretary Vilsack, Secretary of the USDA, during a recent Ag Committee hearing, the Secretary stated that they, being USDA, needed this authority from Congress, and if we give USDA the authority, they will do everything that they can to get these funds to those who need it most.

The exact quote from Secretary Vilsack was:

If you, Congress, direct us, USDA, and give us the power to do so, we will do everything we can to get the resources to the people who need it as quickly as we can.

This bill would allow the Secretary of Agriculture to create a program within USDA to support specialty crops, including citrus, damaged by natural disasters. In 2017, this relief model was successfully used to help growers recover from Hurricane Irma. The Block Grant Assistance Act would provide that exact same flexibility to the Secretary to help Florida citrus growers recover from Hurricane Ian.

In 2018, Congress gave USDA the authority to issue block grants to States to assist with recovery efforts after Hurricane Irma. In conjunction with the USDA Farm Service Agency, the FSA, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant Program was created to support citrus growers impacted by Hurricane Irma. The CRBG program was widely successful in aiding the Florida citrus industry. Unfortunately, for our citrus producers, the language in the fiscal year `23 omnibus bill did not provide Secretary Vilsack the direct authority to disburse the appropriated disaster funds via block grant.

Citrus is a crucial part of the Florida economy. The industry has more than 400,000 acres of citrus groves across the State. The industry contributes $6.8 billion to the economy each year and supports over 33,000 jobs. Citrus growers have had no shortage of challenges over the past several decades, from citrus greening to natural disasters, high input costs, labor concerns, and beyond. However, our State growers have continued to remain resilient. This bill would help our citrus growers recover from Hurricane Ian by allowing the Secretary to efficiently deploy the funds that have already been appropriated by Congress.

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Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. C. Scott Franklin).

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Mrs. CAMMACK. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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