GOP leaders block Conrad’s Ag Disaster Bill
The Republican leadership of the U.S. Senate again blocked efforts by Sen. Kent Conrad to get a vote on bipartisan legislation to provide assistance to farmers and ranchers recovering from devastating natural disasters in 2005 and 2006.
“ A fair vote has been denied here in the Senate today and the party in power has turned its back on America’s farmers,” Sen. Conrad said. “But this fight is far from over. I won’t stand by and let this be swept under the rug. The livelihoods of thousands of farm families are at stake.”
With only days left before Congress adjourns for the fall elections, Sen. Conrad again urged the Senate to immediately pass his emergency Ag disaster legislation to help producers recover from losses to natural disasters in the 2005 and 2006 production seasons.
The bill, which has 22 co-sponsors in the Senate, combines legislation Sen. Conrad previously introduced to support ranchers and farmers impacted by frost, flood and disease during the 2005 growing season with legislation to aid producers suffering from the 2006 drought devastating the Great Plains.
Working with Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, Sen. Conrad called on the Senate to debate and vote on his legislation, the Emergency Farm Relief Act of 2006.
However, Republican leaders objected to the request and denied a vote on the Ag disaster bill.
According to scientists, the dry conditions now ravaging the Great Plains make up the third worst drought in America’s history.
The current drought, combined with the effects of last year’s frost, flood and disease have resulted in an agricultural disaster of historic proportions.
The Secretary of Agriculture recently declared all 53 North Dakota counties agricultural disaster areas.
Sen. Conrad’s comprehensive Ag disaster package provides emergency funding to farmers and ranchers who have suffered weather-related crop production shortfalls, quality losses and damage to livestock and feed supplies.
The bill also helps farmers overcome losses as a result of energy prices that spiked following last year’s hurricanes. In addition, the disaster aid includes a $300 million provision to assist thousands of small, Ag-dependent businesses fighting to keep their doors open.
“ This is not a partisan issue, it is an issue of doing what is right and doing what is needed.” Sen. Conrad said. “It is time for the leaders of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the White House to support passage of an agriculture disaster assistance package. Without this action, thousands of family farms and ranches will be lost.”