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Sponsored 109th |
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About Stephanie |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Calls for Fairness in Disaster Aid Designation; Says VA Spending Should Reflect True Needs of Nation's Veterans Herseth today co-sponsored H.R. 5203, legislation offered to provide meaningful agriculture disaster aid to producers. The bill mirrors a Senate proposal for approximately $3 billion in disaster aid that passed as part of its version of the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. However, House leadership is considering a scaled-back version of agricultural disaster relief, totaling about $1.6 billion. This version would only cover losses incurred in 2004, and, unlike the hurricane disaster aid, would take the money from existing farm programs. Rep. Herseth said, "The bill that I'm supporting would provide assistance on the same basis for all producers affected by disasters, including freezing weather, drought, flood or excessive rain. Importantly, this bill would cover losses suffered in either 2003 or 2004." Rep. Herseth noted that farmers whose crops were impacted by recent hurricanes are receiving emergency assistance, and that hurricane disaster aid is being distributed as far north as Pennsylvania. She continued, "Those who have suffered as a result of the string of terrible hurricanes are deserving of the aid they are receiving - but I believe farmers and ranchers have suffered as well and are equally deserving of an emergency designation. A loss is a loss, plain and simple." H.R. 5203 is already enjoying strong bipartisan support, including South Dakota's neighbors Rep. Osborne (R-NE), Rep. Peterson (D-MN), Rep. Pomeroy (D-ND), Rep. Boswell (D-IA) and Rep. Rehberg (R-MT). Rep. Herseth also today signed on to a discharge petition to force House consideration of legislation to increase FY05 veterans healthcare funds by $1.3 billion to reflect growing need for services as well as ongoing underfunding. Unfortunately, as Congress moves to break for the elections at the end of this week, they have failed to consider the VA-HUD spending bill, which includes funding for veterans health care. Herseth said, "At a time of war, when we are asking our men and women to serve and to die for our country, it is shameful that some in Congress are dragging their feet on legislation to provide funding for necessary - and promised - service to our veterans." Recent reports indicate that the influx of returning troops from Iraq and Afghanistan are straining an already overburdened benefits system. According to a recent report in the Washington Post, 166,334 veterans of operations of Iraq and Afghanistan have separated from military service through the end of April. Of those, 26,633 - 16 percent - had filed benefits claims with the VA for service-connected disabilities. The VA currently has a backlog of more than 300,000 claims. Herseth noted, "Thousands of our troops returning from the War on Terror have both physical and mental health problems that need to be addressed. Unfortunately, because Congress hasn't considered the VA-HUD spending bill, the Department of Veterans' Affairs will begin the new fiscal year operating with last year's funding level. This does not reflect year-to-year increases in inflation or the increased use of services from recent veterans." The House of Representatives has approved 12 of 13 appropriations bills for this year. VA-HUD is the only bill yet to be considered in the House. Herseth is a member of the House Committees on Agriculture and Veterans' Affairs.
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