Torres Small Testifies On Needed Disaster Assistance For Farmers

Front and Center for the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday, disaster assistance and what a federal package should include.  A variety of federal officials testified before senators Wednesday, including Deputy Ag Secretary Xochitl Torres Small.

“Every time I visit a disaster site, I'm struck by how close we all are to experiencing homelessness, going bankrupt, or relying on a food bank for nourishment," she told lawmakers Wednesday.  "Those impacts might include losing your home, losing your business, and if you're a farmer, losing the chance to pass your farm on for future generations.” 

Torres Small noted that partnership of federal agencies is essential in recovery efforts, but unfortunately at times the government can be slow and cumbersome when it comes to delivering needed disaster aid.

“Operations. How we get resources out the door most quickly and delivered to those who most need them, recognizing that the smallest operators in our food supply chain are essential to that chain and are also often the most at risk of going out of business after a disaster.”

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com