|
Senate Easily Approves $6 Billion Drought Aid for Farmers On September 10, the Senate overwhelmingly approved (79-16) an amendment to the Interior Department appropriations bill that would provide nearly $6 billion in emergency drought aid for U.S. farmers and ranchers. The Bush Administration had lobbied against the move; Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman sent a letter to Senate leaders before the vote, stating that “Congress has already provided the tools for drought relief” through federal insurance programs and the $180 billion Farm Bill, enacted in May. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had already announced several initiatives to assist farmers and ranchers, including the release of some of its nonfat dry milk stocks to provide a low cost feed supplement and the opening of emergency haying/grazing acres for livestock.“The Administration strongly opposes this amendment and any agriculture spending in excess of the $180 billion in spending provided earlier this year. This proposal would add $6 billion on top of the already generous Farm Bill only a few months after the bill was enacted,” noted Secretary Veneman in the September 9 letter. The drought aid measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where observers believe it will be significantly pared down.
Posted September 16, 2002 |
