Polk Times

Congressman Scott Franklin, along with Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, has called on the USDA to expedite disaster assistance for Florida's agricultural producers affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Florida delegation wrote to Secretary Vilsack urging immediate action.

"Back-to-back hurricanes have dealt a devastating blow to Florida's agricultural producers, many of whom are still recovering from the disastrous 2022 season," stated Congressman Franklin. He emphasized that federal disaster programs often fail the state's agricultural sector due to complex application processes and delays in aid delivery. Franklin advocated for state-managed solutions similar to those implemented after Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Senator Rubio highlighted the severe impact of recent hurricanes on Florida's farmers, stating, "The devastation from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton has hit Florida’s farmers hard." He urged swift action from the USDA to provide necessary aid.

Congresswoman Cammack expressed gratitude towards her colleagues for their support following the hurricanes. She stressed agriculture's importance as one of Florida’s top industries and looked forward to securing recovery resources for affected communities.

Congresswoman Wilson underscored South Florida's thriving agricultural regions and joined calls for immediate aid. She said it is crucial to support farmers during challenging times caused by hurricanes.

The letter from Rep. Franklin and other members of Congress emphasized several key points: utilizing block grants for disaster aid distribution, enhancing FSA operations, requesting budgetary allocations from Congress for disaster response, discussing crop insurance reforms, and collaborating with USDA for proper support.

Hurricane Milton struck just days after Helene, causing widespread damage across Florida’s productive agricultural areas. Preliminary estimates indicate crop losses ranging between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion according to FDACS.

In response to previous disasters like Hurricane Irma in 2017 where block grants were successfully used by the state government under congressional appropriation; Rep.Franklin alongside Senator Scott introduced legislation (H.R662/S180) allowing similar measures this year which passed unanimously through House Representatives last June .

Cosigners included numerous representatives across party lines who collectively supported efforts aimed at expediting relief delivery while addressing systemic issues within current frameworks employed post-disasters affecting vital sectors such as agriculture throughout America today