Washington, DC —
Senator John Thune today joined a group of bipartisan lawmakers at a press event on Capitol Hill to call for immediate consideration and passage of the Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2006:
"Unlike other natural disasters, drought is a slow, steady destroyer that can cripple a region for months on end. Because the damage and impact is harder to calculate in a 24-hour news cycle, drought is often not given the same focus or assistance," Thune said. "But anyone who has seen firsthand the effects of this year's drought on our farmers, ranchers and businesses knows that this drought demands the same urgent attention and relief of any other natural disaster our country has suffered.
"Over the past few months, I have visited several regions of South Dakota that were hit hardest by this year's drought and what I've witnessed is devastating. Our agricultural industry, the backbone of our state's economy, has been severely harmed by this year's drought, and it is going to take serious and unprecedented relief to get our farmers and ranchers back on their feet.
"I'm pleased to join this bipartisan group of colleagues and these producer groups today in supporting this package, and I'm hopeful the House of Representatives and the Administration will work together with us to get this proposal to the president's desk as soon as possible."
"Unlike other natural disasters, drought is a slow, steady destroyer that can cripple a region for months on end. Because the damage and impact is harder to calculate in a 24-hour news cycle, drought is often not given the same focus or assistance," Thune said. "But anyone who has seen firsthand the effects of this year's drought on our farmers, ranchers and businesses knows that this drought demands the same urgent attention and relief of any other natural disaster our country has suffered.
"Over the past few months, I have visited several regions of South Dakota that were hit hardest by this year's drought and what I've witnessed is devastating. Our agricultural industry, the backbone of our state's economy, has been severely harmed by this year's drought, and it is going to take serious and unprecedented relief to get our farmers and ranchers back on their feet.
"I'm pleased to join this bipartisan group of colleagues and these producer groups today in supporting this package, and I'm hopeful the House of Representatives and the Administration will work together with us to get this proposal to the president's desk as soon as possible."