Washington, D.C. —
The United States Senate tonight passed the Emergency War Funding bill 80 to 14. Senator John Thune made the following comments:
"As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I know our Armed Forces are desperately awaiting this much needed funding. This bill does not contain an arbitrary withdrawal date, but it does call on the Administration to report back to Congress on progress being made in Iraq and it holds the Iraqi government accountable.
"Like the needed funding for our troops, the drought assistance in this bill is long overdue. It is unfortunate that the Democrat leadership chose to play politics by delaying action on such important issues.
"For too long, South Dakotans have had to wait for drought assistance and I think it underscores the need for Congress to devise a way to better address and deliver agriculture assistance. This bill contains $3 billion for drought assistance and I will do everything I can to ensure that South Dakotans who have suffered from the recent drought receive assistance as soon as possible."
Crop Disaster Payments:
Livestock Disaster Payments:
"As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I know our Armed Forces are desperately awaiting this much needed funding. This bill does not contain an arbitrary withdrawal date, but it does call on the Administration to report back to Congress on progress being made in Iraq and it holds the Iraqi government accountable.
"Like the needed funding for our troops, the drought assistance in this bill is long overdue. It is unfortunate that the Democrat leadership chose to play politics by delaying action on such important issues.
"For too long, South Dakotans have had to wait for drought assistance and I think it underscores the need for Congress to devise a way to better address and deliver agriculture assistance. This bill contains $3 billion for drought assistance and I will do everything I can to ensure that South Dakotans who have suffered from the recent drought receive assistance as soon as possible."
Crop Disaster Payments:
- An applicant must have purchased crop insurance in order to be eligible for disaster assistance on the crop.
- Quantity or quality losses for the 2005, 2006, or 2007 crop due to damaging weather or any related condition, including losses due to crop diseases, insects, and delayed planting.
- Crop must have been planted before February 28, 2007, for 2007 losses.
- Producer can pick only one of the years for disaster payment – for nearly all SD producers this will be 2005 or 2006.
- Payment rates will be established by the Secretary of Agriculture – crop disaster payments will be a percentage of that payment rate.
Livestock Disaster Payments:
- Livestock Compensation Program payments will be issued to owners of livestock in eligible counties on a per head basis.
- Livestock Indemnity Program payments will be issued for loss of livestock on a per head basis in an amount not less than 26 percent of the market value of applicable livestock.