News From The Vermont Congressional Delegation


Leahy, Jeffords, Sanders
Ask USDA To Rule In
Drought Relief To Next-Door Counties
That USDA Has Ruled Out

(Oct. 3) -- The Vermont Congressional Delegation has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to follow past precedents by expanding compensation for drought losses to include dairy producers in counties adjacent to those designated as primary disaster areas.

In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, the delegation members – Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Jim Jeffords and Rep. Bernie Sanders – said USDA announced Sept. 19 that drought relief compensation to livestock producers, including dairymen, would be limited to farmers in counties designated as primary disaster areas for the drought of 2001 and 2002.

“This unfairly prevents producers suffering drought-related losses in six Vermont counties designated as ‘contiguous’ disaster areas from receiving federal disaster aid,” Leahy, Jeffords and Sanders said in their letter to Veneman.  “Historically, USDA has not distinguished between primary and contiguous disaster areas for purposes of dispensing federal disaster aid.  Drought and other weather-related disasters don’t recognize political boundaries.  Rarely do they begin or end along county lines.  The contiguous county rule addresses this by ensuring that the perimeters of a disaster area are included in the disaster designation.”

Their letter continues:  “Without the contiguous county rule, decisions to limit federal disaster aid on a county basis become arbitrary.  More often than not, many producers suffering losses within the perimeter of a disaster area would be denied aid.  This piece-meal approach to disaster assistance is unfair.  Producers throughout an entire designated disaster area should be treated the same.

“While we appreciate your desire to respond to the needs of our nation’s livestock producers, we fear that the rules announced by your department unfairly prevent producers in certain drought-stricken areas from receiving these much-needed funds.  We urge you to reconsider these restrictions and allow all livestock producers within a designated disaster area to receive assistance under the Livestock Compensation Program.”

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Full Letter Text:

The Honorable Ann Veneman
Secretary of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Secretary Veneman:

We understand that on September 19, 2002, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a new program to compensate livestock producers, including dairymen, located in counties designated as primary disaster areas for losses suffered due to drought.  We are writing to ask you to expand this program to allow producers located in contiguous, as well as primary disaster areas, to receive this federal disaster assistance.

According to USDA’s press release announcing the new Livestock Compensation Program, only producers located in counties designated as primary disaster areas due to drought in 2001 or 2002 will qualify for payments under the program.  This unfairly prevents producers suffering drought-related losses in six Vermont counties designated as “contiguous” disaster areas from receiving federal disaster aid.

Historically, USDA has not distinguished between primary and contiguous disaster areas for purposes of dispensing federal disaster aid.  Drought and other weather-related disasters don’t recognize political boundaries.  Rarely do they begin or end along county lines.  The contiguous county rule addresses this by ensuring that the perimeters of a disaster area are included in the disaster designation.

Without the contiguous county rule, decisions to limit federal disaster aid on a county basis become arbitrary.  More often than not, many producers suffering losses within the perimeter of a disaster area would be denied aid.  This piece-meal approach to disaster assistance is unfair.  Producers throughout an entire designated disaster area should be treated the same. 

While we appreciate your desire to respond to the needs of our nation’s livestock producers, we fear that the rules announced by your department unfairly prevent producers in certain drought-stricken areas from receiving these much-needed funds.  We urge you to reconsider these restrictions and allow all livestock producers within a designated disaster area to receive assistance under the Livestock Compensation Program.

Sincerely,

____________________        ____________________        ____________________

PATRICK J. LEAHY              JAMES JEFFORDS                BERNIE SANDERS

United States Senator               United States Senator               United States Congressman

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