Just ahead of the Memorial Holiday weekend, the U.S. Senate passed a $19 Billion dollar disaster relief bill. It includes about $3 billion to cover crop damage, including additional funding for farmers who were prevented from planting due to floods as well as payments for on farm stored grain that was damaged. Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson is pleased Senators came together to approve this much needed measure.
Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says several farmers and ranchers were negatively impacted by the spring floods and the aid is desperately needed. He’s also pleased they included close to $600 million for the Emergency Conservation Program in the measure.
Nelson says when they get back from recess the Senate will have to get busy and meld their measure with the disaster bill the House passed.
The broad bipartisan support was achieved in the Senate for the disaster bill after Democrats insisted on throwing out President Trump’s $4.5 billion request to handle migrants at the U.S. Mexico border. The legislation passed on an 85 to 8 vote.
