Western Governors Call on Congress to Act Swiftly On Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers (7/31/06)

Western Governors Call on Congress to Act Swiftly On Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2006

Contact: Kevin Moran or Shanna Brown, (202) 624-5402

DENVER -- As drought and other severe weather conditions continue to devastate Western farms and ranches, Governors today called on House and Senate leaders to act swiftly on measures that will provide meaningful relief.

The letter from the Western Governors' Association was signed by Govs. Mike Rounds (S.D.), WGA Chair; Dave Freudenthal (Wyo.), WGA Vice Chair; Janet Napolitano (Ariz.); Arnold Schwarzenegger (Calif.); Bill Owens (Colo.); Linda Lingle (Hawaii); Jim Risch (Idaho); Kathleen Sebelius (Kan.); Brian Schweitzer (Mont.); Dave Heineman (Neb.); Bill Richardson (N.M.); Kenny Guinn (Nev.); John Hoeven (N.D.); Brad Henry (Okla.); Ted Kulongoski (Ore.); Jon Huntsman, Jr.(Utah); and Chris Gregoire (Wash.). Govs. Rounds and Hoeven drafted the initial letter and circulated it to their colleagues for consideration.

Following is the text of the letter sent by the Western Governors' Association to House and Senate leaders and chairs of the appropriations committees in both chambers:

We, as Governors representing Western states, are writing on behalf of farmers and ranchers suffering drought and other natural disasters.

For some time now, farmers and ranchers throughout the Western United States and other parts of the country have been either suffering or recovering from drought and other severe weather conditions. The current record setting heat wave in many of our states will impose considerable burdens on agriculture. Current forecasts in some areas are predicting more dry weather, with little promise of relief. These weather conditions, in combination with increased production costs, are taking a terrible toll on our farmers and ranchers, and their livestock and crops. In order to continue to provide America with quality, affordable food under these conditions, disaster assistance legislation is imperative.

It is vitally important that Congress passes legislation this year providing meaningful disaster relief to help farmers and ranchers through these disaster conditions.

We, the Western Governors, strongly encourage you to support disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers who have suffered severe losses due to these natural disasters.

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 19 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.

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