Lucas to Introduce Ag Disaster Assistance Bill

LUCAS TO INTRODUCE AG DISASTER ASSISTANCE BILL

Bill Will Provide Assistance for Oklahoma Drought,
Other Nationwide Natural Disasters

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Frank Lucas will introduce legislation to help agriculture producers deal with production losses caused by the unprecedented natural disasters that have plagued the farm sector over the last 18 months.

Lucas will introduce his Natural Disaster Assistance Bill of 2006, which will provide payments to those producers dealing with extensive recent natural disasters such as the drought in the Midwest, flooding in California, and hurricane crop and livestock losses in Louisiana and Florida.

Lucas believes the programs could provide as much as $2 billion in federal assistance for those producers hardest hit by natural disasters.

"We've already had staggering losses in the farm sector this year, and Oklahoma producers are facing the most devastating drought in decades," Lucas said. "Our farm economy has always been at the mercy of Mother Nature, but this year we've seen her at her worst."

The bill would make producers eligible for payments to cover half their losses that are beyond a loss of 35 percent of normal yields.

Payments would also be eligible for fruit, nut, sugarcane, sugar beet, and cottonseed producers who suffered losses in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The bill provides payments for livestock and poultry losses in qualifying disaster counties. It also pays 30 percent of the market value of animals lost to hurricanes, floods, anthrax, or wildfires.

Lucas, who is chairman of a House Agriculture Subcommittee, is finalizing the language of his legislation, and plans to introduce it in the U.S. House next week. He believes he will be able to generate the necessary support from his colleagues to see his bill signed into law this year.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ok03_lucas/agdisasterintro.html