WASHINGTON (Oct. 9, 2002) – During a Capitol Hill news conference today, National Farmers Union President Dave Frederickson urged Congress to pass an emergency disaster assistance package before Congress recesses.

Frederickson joined Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and other senators and farm groups today in the continued call for immediate aid for farmers and ranchers with production losses due to extraordinary natural disasters in 2001 and 2002.

"Drought, flooding, freeze, pests and diseases have wiped out many agriculture producers’ livelihoods and are causing tremendous economic damage to rural communities," Frederickson said. "If Congress does not pass an emergency disaster package before recess, it will be too late for much of rural America. But, it’s not too late for Congress to act."

National Farmers Union and 36 other farm organizations are supporting H.R. 5383, a comprehensive emergency disaster package sponsored by Reps. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., and Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D. The legislation is identical to a measure passed in the Senate with a 79-to-16 vote that would assist crop and livestock producers suffering losses due to weather-related disasters in both 2001 and 2002.

As of Sept. 26, 51.1 percent of U.S. counties were declared disaster areas by the secretary of agriculture. In 2001, 48.6 percent of U.S. counties were declared disasters. Disasters were declared in nearly 30 percent of all counties in both years, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

According to Frederickson, USDA’s recent drought assistance covers less than one-sixth of the estimated losses incurred in rural America, yet the administration continues to oppose emergency disaster aid.

"The administration’s position to require that disaster assistance be offset from farm programs is not realistic," Frederickson said. "The counter-cyclical nature of the recently enacted farm bill has already reduced government payments by over $5 billion. To require additional offsets from the farm bill would be like taxing the victims of a hurricane, flood or earthquake to pay for the clean-up."

-30-

www.nfu.org