SE North Carolina News

Senator Ted Budd, along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, has taken steps to expedite disaster assistance for farmers affected by recent natural disasters. The group sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, urging the swift publication of guidelines for administering disaster relief aid.

The letter emphasizes the need for an "expedited rulemaking process" following Congress's provision of agricultural disaster relief funding in December. It highlights the significant damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which have severely impacted commodity and specialty crops, livestock, forestlands, and infrastructure.

Other signatories include Senators Thom Tillis, Shelley Moore Capito, Jim Justice, Marsha Blackburn, Jon Ossoff, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and several Representatives from North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Florida.

The correspondence congratulates Secretary Rollins on her confirmation and acknowledges her commitment to providing economic relief to farmers. It stresses the urgency of deploying $20.78 billion in agriculture disaster relief aid from a $110 billion package signed into law.

The letter notes that farm income has dropped significantly over the past two years—by $34.6 billion in 2023 and another $8.2 billion in 2024—and warns that without accessible funding soon, many farmers might face severe financial challenges or closure.

It calls for clear guidance from the USDA on accessing these funds to help producers continue their operations amid financial difficulties exacerbated by projected trade deficits.

"We appreciate the USDA’s focus on this urgent matter," states the letter. The lawmakers express readiness to collaborate with Secretary Rollins to ensure effective distribution of aid.