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Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Western States Emergency Unfinished Business Appropriations Act, 2007

Floor Speech

Date: May 10, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Agriculture and Food


AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND WESTERN STATES EMERGENCY UNFINISHED BUSINESS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007 -- (House of Representatives - May 10, 2007)

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Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, with this supplemental appropriations bill, we continue to confront urgent business which the 109th Congress left unfinished last year and which the President continues to want to leave unfinished. Today, that includes an important relief package for agricultural disasters which occurred in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

I do not have to remind my colleagues about so many instances of devastation that have struck every corner of our Nation. And the President's response to these disasters is, ``You are on your own.'' With severe drought in the Midwest, wildfire in the Southwest and floods in the Upper Plains, the United States Department of Agriculture designated nearly three-quarters of all U.S. counties as primary or contiguous disaster areas over the past 2 years. Hardworking farmers struggling just to get by, struggling to deal with each disaster's painful consequences, struggling to understand their deeply felt impact on our businesses, our communities, on our everyday lives. What is the President's response? ``You are on your own.''

These events are described by many as ``slow-motion disasters,'' but they are disasters nonetheless. And we cannot turn our backs on those who are hit hardest. Indeed, we have a responsibility to look honestly at all of the hard choices which have been put off far too long by this Congress and our President.

Outside the gulf region, there has been no disaster assistance in the past 2 years, even though natural disasters hit our farmers hard. In 2000 and 2001, we had disaster assistance bills that cost over $11 billion in one year and $14 billion in the other. Our proposal is a fraction of those.

While some time has passed since these natural disasters occurred, it does not mean that they have ceased to be emergencies, and it does not mean that we no longer have an obligation to help those in need.

What the Democrats tonight are telling those who are struggling in the face of these disasters is that you are not alone. We are on your side. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

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