Moran Announces House Passage of Agriculture Disaster Assistance

Press Release

Moran Announces House Passage of Agriculture Disaster Assistance

Congressman Jerry Moran today announced House passage of agriculture disaster assistance for Kansas farmers and ranchers. This legislation covers crop losses for years 2005 and 2006, as well as through February 28, 2007.

"Congress has been considering agriculture disaster assistance for far too long," Moran said. "This is a major step forward. The First Congressional District of Kansas is expected to receive more assistance under this proposal than any congressional district in the country. In addition to year after year of drought, Kansas farmers and ranchers were most recently hit with severe winter storms, a late spring freeze and now hail, tornadoes and flooding. Passage of agriculture disaster assistance remains my number one ag priority."

Similar legislation passed the House last month. The bill passed by the House today, however, does not include funding for the war in Iraq with withdrawal requirements for U.S. troops, which would likely be vetoed by the President.

"Although I support this overall legislation and have advocated for it for more than a year, it only covers losses through the end of February 2007," Moran said. "With our recent spring weather in Kansas, there is a need to extend this timeline and I will work to see that more losses are covered as this bill makes its way through the legislative process."

This legislation must still be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by the President. Moran is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee.

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