WASHINGTON DC (May 24, 2019) — Senator Charles "Chuck" Grassley issued the following statement after the Senate voted to approve a package of disaster aid, which included Sen Grassley’s amendment designed to provide relief to farmers that lost stored grain in recent floods:
“It’s important that we approved this disaster package. It’s long-past due. Politics shouldn’t be played when Americans need help recovering from disasters. I secured specific relief for farmers whose grain-bins busted because of flooding. This should help those affected, especially in Southwest Iowa, in the continued effort to rebuild and recover. This package is a good start for addressing Midwest flooding needs. I will continue to work with farmers, communities and the state on what further assistance will be needed.”
More information about the disaster aid package passed in the Senate can be found HERE. Some of the provisions that will assist disaster-affected Iowans follows.
- US Department of Agriculture, Office of the Secretary — Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP) — $3,005,442,000
For necessary expenses related to losses of crops (including milk, on-farm stored commodities, crops prevented from planting in 2019, and harvested adulterated wine grapes), trees, bushes, and vines.
- US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency (FSA) — Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) — $558,000,000
For repairs to damaged farmland.
- US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) — Emergency Watershed Protection Program — $435,000,000
For rural watershed recovery.
- US Department of Agriculture, Rural Development — Rural Community Facilities Program — $150,000,000
For small rural communities impacted by natural disasters.
- Economic Development Assistance (EDA) Programs — $600,000,000
To provide grants to communities directly impacted by disasters.
- Army Corps of Engineers, Operations and Maintenance (O&M) — Mississippi River and Tributaries — $575,000,000
To address emergency situations at Corps projects and rehabilitate and repair damages to Corps projects caused by natural disasters.
- US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) — Emergency Relief Program (ER) — $1,650,000,000
For repair and reconstruction of federal-aid highways and roads which have suffered serious damages as a result of natural disasters.
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) — $2,431,000,000
For disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
