Texas Congressman Holds Up Bipartisan, Bicameral Disaster Relief

(WASHINGTON, DC) Last week, the Senate passed a long-awaited $19 billion disaster-relief package. The legislation – endorsed by the President – was expected to be passed by unanimous consent in the House with no roll call vote needed. However, freshman lawmaker Rep. Chip Roy (TX-R) objected to passing the measure by a voice vote and now the House will have to vote on the measure after the Memorial Day recess. The bill enjoys broad bipartisan support and includes more than $3 billion to cover crop losses due to natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 under terms and conditions determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Assistance is also provided to cover blueberry and peach crop losses resulting from freezes and hurricanes in 2017 and producers impacted by Tropical Storm Cindy. There is $558 million provided for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to cover repairs to damaged farmland. Nutrition Assistance will be provided to Puerto Rico at a total of $600 million, with another $25.2 million to the Northern Mariana Islands, and $18 million to American Samoa. Other items in the bill affecting agriculture include a waiver for the average gross income (AGI) requirement for producer eligibility under the administration’s Market Facilitation Program (MFP) and language to ensure crop insurance coverage for hemp beginning in the 2020 reinsurance year.