Rep. Austin Scott, US Representative for Georgia's 8th District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Austin Scott, US Representative for Georgia's 8th District | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Representative Austin Scott and U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff are leading a bipartisan effort to secure disaster relief funding for the agricultural industry in the southeastern United States following Hurricane Helene.
Rep. Scott and Senator Ossoff, along with Georgia’s entire Congressional Delegation, spearheaded a group of 34 lawmakers from Southeastern States urging Congressional leadership to collaborate with them and the Biden Administration to ensure disaster relief resources are available to farmers and growers impacted by Hurricane Helene.
“To prevent deep and lasting economic damage to the agricultural industry in the southeastern United States, it is imperative that Congress make appropriations as soon as possible upon the completion of damage assessments to fully fund unmet agricultural disaster relief needs in our states and across the nation,” Rep. Scott, Sen. Ossoff, and the group wrote to Congressional Leadership. “Farmers and growers nationwide, not only those damaged by Helene, have now faced multiple growing seasons without sufficient federal support. Our constituents are counting on us to act swiftly.”
The initiative has garnered support from Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), as well as Representatives Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01), Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Drew Ferguson (GA-03), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Rich McCormick (GA-06), Lucy McBath (GA-07), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), Mike Collins (GA-10), Barry Loudermilk (GA-11), Rick Allen (GA-12), David Scott (GA-13), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14), Darren Soto (FL-09), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Frederica Wilson (FL-24) Morgan McGarvey(KY -03 ), Don Davis(NC -01 ), Deborah Ross(NC -02 ), Greg Murphy(NC -03 ), Kathy Manning(NC -06 ), Dan Bishop(NC -08 ), Chuck Edwards(NC -11 ), Alma Adams(NC -12 ) Wiley Nickel(NC -13 ), Jeff Jackson(NC -14 ) Diana Harshbarger(TN 01).
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida last week as a Category 4 hurricane before moving through Georgia and downgrading to a tropical storm affecting South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee — causing significant damage to agricultural sectors.
“Federal agricultural disaster assistance is essential to help our States and our Nation recover. We urge you to work with the administration to ensure disaster relief resources are made available to our growers. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to working with you to secure these critical resources,” Rep. Scott, Senator Ossoff, and the group wrote.
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