News Releases for January 2003
January 16, 2003
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Hoeven Sees Progress In Federal Disaster Aid
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today, after meeting with White House and Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., said he believes Congress is close to passing a farm disaster package. The $3.1 billion measure is part of an omnibus spending package now on the Senate floor. To cover the cost of the disaster package and other measures in the bill, senators cut 1.6 percent from other programs across the board in the legislation.
“I believe we are close to getting a disaster aid package that meets the requirements of the President and that will be supported by a majority of legislators in both houses,” Hoeven said. “It will come out of offsets to the spending bill - not out of offsets to agricultural spending.”
The plan as now drafted would provide about 42 percent of the existing farm bill direct payments to all farmers, regardless of need. Hoeven said he pushed to target the payments to farmers and ranchers directly affected by drought and flooding. Senate leadership will be meeting into the evening working on the amendment. One option being discussed, is to provide about 85 percent of the direct payment to those most in need, according to Hoeven.
The omnibus bill could be passed as early as tomorrow, and on the President’s desk by the end of the month, Hoeven said.
“The need is great, and we will continue to press for more, but I believe this is a measure that can pass and that the President will sign,” Hoeven said. “We have been debating disaster aid since last summer, and farmers and ranchers have waited long enough. We need to stop disputing the details and get some relief to our producers now, before the hardship gets any deeper.”
Hoeven met today in Washington, D.C. with President Bush’s chief agriculture advisor, Chuck Conner; U.S. Department of Agriculture Chief of Staff Dale Moore; Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.); Chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.); and other key congressional leaders.
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