WASHINGTON – Sen.
Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) proposed an amendment to the $1.9 trillion spending
plan that would make derecho-ravaged farms eligible for federal assistance already
available for victims of costal hurricanes, wildfires and other natural
disasters. The plan, which was
originally
offered in the House of Representatives by Rep. Randy Feenstra (Iowa-04),
would not have increased federal spending levels. It was rejected in the Senate by a vote of 45-54.
“Farmers
across Iowa were hit with a double dose of economic pain in the pandemic when a
rare and devastating derecho ripped across the state destroying millions of
acres of crops, along with grain bins, barns and other farming facilities. Rep.
Feenstra offered a bipartisan amendment to the House’s version of the spending
bill to make Iowa’s farmers eligible for existing aide. Even though his
bipartisan amendment was adopted by the House Agriculture Committee, House
Democratic leaders stripped it out at the last minute.
“I was
hoping for a better outcome on the Senate side, but Democrats couldn’t find any
room in their massive $1.9 trillion package for Iowa farmers. The one-two punch
from COVID-19 and the derecho means these farmers were particularly devastated.
I will keep working with Congressman Feenstra to ensure these producers get the
assistance they need. Apparently, some believe Iowa’s natural disasters aren’t
good enough to get the same assistance previously made available for California
wildfires or costal hurricanes,” Grassley
said.
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