Durbin Launches Online Petition to Support Disaster Relief for Family Farmers
DURBIN LAUNCHES ONLINE PETITION TO SUPPORT DISASTER RELIEF FOR FAMILY FARMERS
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today kicked off an effort to persuade the President to back down from his threat to veto an emergency appropriations bill if it contains any disaster relief for family farmers, and urged Illinoisans to join him by signing an online petition.
"After suffering through one of the worst droughts the state has seen in over 100 years, Illinois farmers are struggling to make ends meet," said Durbin. "I hope everyone who agrees that this assistance is necessary will sign this petition and let the President know that he needs to support our family farmers."
Durbin noted that Illinois farmers suffered $433 million in losses as a direct result of the drought. At least 10 counties in Northeast and Western Illinois sustained greater than 20 percent losses in corn yields.
Durbin will serve on the House-Senate conference committee negotiating the final version of the emergency appropriations bill, but the President is pressuring members of the committee to drop the agriculture disaster package. Durbin unveiled the petition available on his Web site, http://durbin.senate.gov, and said he hopes Illinoisans will sign it so he can present it to the President and Congressional leaders to show strong grassroots support in the fight to preserve the agriculture disaster package in the bill. The Illinois lawmaker said he'll invite other Senate colleagues to join him with their own online petitions.
Durbin noted that in addition to coping with crop losses, farmers have had to deal with significantly higher operating costs, as a result of increased fuel prices. For Illinois farmers, increased fuel prices mean higher costs for operating farm machinery, as well as rising fertilizer and pesticide prices. Durbin added that the average Illinois farmer, with a 1,000 acre farm, is paying $24,000 more than he or she did in 2001 to operate a farm. This 30 percent increase in costs is a direct result of higher gas prices which have led to higher fuel, fertilizer and pesticide costs for farmers across the state.
"Last year's drought and this year's high gas prices could put struggling farmers out of business. That's why it is important for the President to hear from Illinois farmers."
The President announced last month that he would veto the emergency supplemental bill if it includes the agriculture disaster package, which would bring an estimated $200 million in relief to Illinois farmers and producers who have been hit by last year's drought and record-high energy costs.
Illinoisans can sign the petition at http://durbin.senate.gov
http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=255848&&