Senator Charles Schumer's Letter to Secretary Ann Veneman, United States Department of Agriculture

Secretary Ann Veneman
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue
Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Veneman:

It has come to my attention that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has failed to distribute $94 million in Apple Market Loss Assistance (AMLA) payments to the nation's farmers. Almost three weeks ago, your Department indicated that the payments would be dispatched on or around January 17th, yet the funds have still not gone out.

This is not the first time the USDA has delayed sending out AMLA payments. Although Congress appropriated $100 million for this purpose in October 2000, the Department of Agriculture did not send out payments to farmers until June 2001. Similarly, Congress appropriated a second round of AMLA assistance in November 2001, yet the Department did not release the $75 million until November 2002.

Congress appropriated these funds to address the disastrous market conditions threatening the country's agricultural community. Although the Congress appropriated $94 million for the third round of AMLA payments in May 2002, and despite assurances given by your Department, it has failed to release any of these funds to farmers.

These delays have had serious consequences for farmers who have based their budgets in part on the USDA's distribution of this AMLA assistance. I have received several calls from farmers under pressure from creditors seeking to recoup their debts from the allegedly forthcoming AMLA payments. To make up for this additional burden, I believe the Department of Agriculture should also disburse interest on the $94 million Congress appropriated to the farmers in May 2002.

I am sure you can see the urgency of the situation and hope you will do all that is in your power to ensure that the third round of AMLA payments is disbursed as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,
Charles Schumer
U.S. Senator