News Releases for September 2006
September 5, 2006
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Hoeven: Midwestern Governors Join In Call For Federal Disaster Aid
Eight Midwestern Governors Sign Letter Urging Ag Disaster Legislation
Governors disaster support letter 
(65kb pdf)
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association, have organized a letter signed by eight members of the MGA pressing congressional leaders to pass comprehensive drought legislation. Letters were sent to majority and minority leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.
The letter follows a similar letter Hoeven organized earlier this month from members of the Western Governors’ Association urging the federal government to provide drought relief to farmers and ranchers hit hard by drought.
“We now have more than 20 governors supporting comprehensive drought assistance for our farmers and ranchers, and we will work to get governors from the Southern and New England Associations on board for general disaster assistance, as well,” Hoeven said. “Clearly, we have broad bipartisan support from a large part of the nation for this effort to help our producers in a time of real need.”
Hoeven drafted the MGA letter, which highlights the challenge of farmers and ranchers throughout the country who have been confronted with high temperatures and nearly no rain throughout the summer.
“Farmers and ranchers throughout the United States have been fighting drought and other severe weather conditions for the past two years,” the governors said. “We... strongly encourage you to support disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers who have suffered severe losses due to these natural disasters.”
In addition to Hoeven and Pawlenty, the letter was signed by a bipartisan group of governors, including Govs. Tom Vilsak (Iowa); Dave Heineman (Neb.); Mike Rounds (S.D.); Rod Blagojevich (Ill.); Kathleen Sebelius (Kan.); and Jim Doyle (Wis.).
Hoeven will travel to Washington D.C. next week to lobby both Congress and the Administration for disaster assistance.
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