All 11 members of the Tennessee congressional delegation sent a letter to congressional leadership on Monday requesting that adequate relief funds are appropriated for farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene last month.
“We urge Congress to take swift and thorough action in appropriating critical funding upon completion of damage assessments to wholly meet the agricultural disaster relief demands of each affected state,” the Tennessee lawmakers wrote to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04), House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-08), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Noting how the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage across Tennessee with some areas receiving as much as 10-15 inches of rainfall in addition to runoff from surrounding states, the lawmakers said the hurricane has “ruined ready-to-harvest crops and forage, flooded pastures, equipment loss, and distressed livestock” for farmers in the Volunteer State.
“Producers, who are already engulfed by the ongoing farm financial crisis, will require meaningful disaster assistance to stand up their operations and continue farming,” the lawmakers said.
“Now more than ever, the agriculture industry is relying on Congress to step up to the plate and overwhelmingly support the industry that fuels, feeds, and clothes our nation. Federal agricultural disaster assistance is vital to helping our state and country recover from the unprecedented disaster that has taken so much. We urge you to work with stakeholders, colleagues, and the Administration to provide disaster relief for growers and livestock owners,” the lawmakers added.
Led by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and U.S. Representative John Rose (R-TN-06), Monday’s letter was also signed by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), Mark Green (R-TN-07), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), and Steve Cohen (D-TN-09).
Monday’s letter comes as the Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 17 weather-related fatalities in the Volunteer State as a result of Hurricane Helene.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Hurricane Helene” by Bill Lee.
A little surprised that Steve Cohen signed. He is a rat I’m the cess pool.