Federal spending bill would help rural Georgians hurt by Helene
WASHINGTON - On Saturday, Sen. Raphael Warnock voted on a bill that would not only help keep the federal government open but also help rural Georgia communities still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene.
The bill will provide $100 billion in disaster assistance for Georgians and Americans recovering from Hurricane Helene and other recent natural disasters, as well as tens of millions in additional assistance for Georgia commodity farmers, according to a release.
The bill also funded the federal government through March 14.
The move came after Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper called on Congress to the federal spending bill.
”From soaring input costs to low commodity prices, the expiration of the Farm Bill, and devastating natural disasters, these past few years have been some of the hardest for our farm families in our nation’s history,” Harper said in a statement. “We have worked around the clock to do everything in our power to get our farm families back on their feet, and thanks to the diligent work of those of Congress who are fighting on behalf of agriculture, including a number of those in our congressional delegation, it is my understanding that a deal on disaster assistance and economic relief has been reached.”
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Harper said while the destruction from Hurricane Helene is still “too raw and real in Georgia,” some in Washington D.C. have been “using agriculture as a pawn and apparently, don’t seem to care about the farm families that deliver the food, fiber and shelter that this country relies on every day.”
“The continued success of our farm families, our nation’s national security, and our consumers, who will benefit from lower prices at the grocery store, all depend on Congress ing significant disaster relief and economic assistance,” Harper said. “It is time for Washington, D.C. to do its job, and it is imperative that our entire congressional delegation these measures to ensure our farm families remain strong and consumers can continue to enjoy the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world. The eyes of Georgia and the nation are watching — and it cannot afford to wait any longer.”
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Warnock released a statement after the spending bill’s age:
“Washington Republicans almost shut the government down for no good reason,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “I’m glad our Republican colleagues in the House stopped playing partisan games and allowed Congress to finally do our job to keep the government open, but this is no way to run a country. This type of political brinksmanship that centers politicians and not the people is exactly what’s wrong with Washington and why Americans are losing trust in our government. I’m not going to stand by while craven politicians acting in bad faith try to take advantage of the hardworking people of our state. I’m ing this short term government funding bill to get Georgia’s farmers and families the urgent assistance they need.”
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He said the funding is especially critical for the pecan, cotton, poultry, and timber industries.
Georgia’s horticulture sector was hit hard and is estimated to have sustained $450 million in damage to crop loss, future income and greenhouses and other infrastructure.
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