Twelve House members today are introducing a $14 billion disaster aid bill to compensate producers for weather-related losses in 2022 and 2023.
The Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, led by California Reps. David Valadao, a Republican, and Jimmy Panetta, a Democrat, would give the additional money to USDA to compensate producers for losses from floods, hurricanes, drought, tornadoes, wildfires, and weather related pest damages.
Some $1.5 billion would be targeted to livestock producers’ losses or costs associated with relocation, feed or shelter-in-place procedures. Other funding could cover damage to wine grapes from wildfire smoke.
Leaders of the House and Senate Ag committees already are talking about a possible package of supplemental ag assistance to compensate growers for 2024 disasters as well as the downturn in the commodity markets. No aid package is going to move until Congress returns after the elections.