Letter to The Honorable Bill Frist Senate Majority Leader and The Honorable Harry Reid Senate Minority Leader

The Honorable Bill Frist
Senate Majority Leader
Office of the Senate Majority Leader
S-230 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20510-1264

The Honorable Harry Reid
Senate Minority Leader
Office of the Senate Minority Leader
S-221 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20510-7020

Dear Senator Frist and Senator Reid:

We, as Governors representing Western states, are writing on
behalf of farmers and ranchers suffering drought and other natural
disasters.

For some time now, farmers and ranchers throughout the Western
United States and other parts of the country have been either suffering or
recovering from drought and other severe weather conditions. The current
record setting heat wave in many of our states will impose considerable
burdens on agriculture. Current forecasts in some areas are predicting
more dry weather, with little promise of relief. These weather conditions,
in combination with increased production costs, are taking a terrible toll
on our farmers and ranchers, and their livestock and crops. In order to
continue to provide America with quality, affordable food under these
conditions, disaster assistance legislation is imperative.

It is vitally important that Congress passes legislation this year
providing meaningful disaster relief to help farmers and ranchers through
these disaster conditions.

We, the Western Governors, strongly encourage you to support
disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers who have suffered severe
losses due to these natural disasters.

Sincerely,

Janet Napolitano
Governor of Arizona

Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California

Bill Owens
Governor of Colorado

Linda Lingle
Governor of Hawaii

James Risch
Governor of Idaho

Kenny Guinn
Governor of Nevada

John Hoeven
Governor of North Dakota

Kathlee Sebelius
Governor of Kansas

Dave Heineman
Governor of Nebrska

Bill Richardson
Governor of New Mexico

Brad Henry
Governor of Oklahoma

Michael Rounds
Governor of South Dakota

Chris Gregoire
Governor of Washington

Dave Freudenthal
Governor of Wyoming

John Huntsman
Governor of Utah

July 31, 2006

cc: Western State Senate Coalition
House Western Caucus

http://www.governor.state.nd.us/media/news-releases/2006/08/docs/20060801.pdf