HARTFORD–Following the historic flooding in the Northeast this summer, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative John Larson (D-Conn.-01) on Monday led 16 lawmakers, including U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), Jim Himes (D-Conn.-04), and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05), in a letter to leadership of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees requesting additional funding in either a fiscal year 2024 spending bill or fiscal year 2023 emergency spending legislation to help New England famers recover from devastating crop damage and loss.

“July’s historic flooding in the Northeast caused widespread damage across New England. The significant wind and rainfall from the heavy storms caused substantial harm to the region’s agricultural industry, destroying over 3,000 acres and causing sales losses of over $26 million in Connecticut and more than 2,700 acres and $15 million in Massachusetts. In Vermont, floods are estimated to have impacted up to 50% of all farmland in the state. For many farmers, the entirety of their crops will be lost this season,” the lawmakers wrote.

“To make matters worse, many of the farmers affected are poorly protected by existing USDA programs risk management programs. The small- and mid- size nature of many of these businesses make them a poor fit for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or Federal Crop Insurance,” the lawmakers continued, “Beyond program design, these farms do not have the resources to dedicate towards the often-burdensome requirements to maintain enrollment, especially with a uniquely diverse crop production.”

The lawmakers concluded: “There is precedent for Congress providing increased disaster assistance to farmers through annual spending bills and we believe such aid is again warranted. We strongly urge the committee to include this funding in any spending legislation that advances this year.”

U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representatives Bill Keating (D-Mass.-09), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.-02), Richard Neal (D-Mass.-01), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Lori Trahan (D-Mass.-03), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.-01), Patrick Ryan (D-N.Y.-18), and Becca Balint (I-Vt.) also signed the letter.

Last month, Murphy and Blumenthal sent a letter to President Joe Biden to thank the administration for its support for New England communities that suffered catastrophic flooding in July 2023 and request that President Biden continue to address the ongoing needs of these communities in any upcoming disaster supplemental appropriations request to Congress. In July, Murphy, Larson, and the rest of the Connecticut Delegation called on President Biden and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to heed Governor Ned Lamont’s request to declare a USDA Secretarial Disaster and to work with Congress to deliver direct emergency relief to farmers. Last week, Secretary Vilsack approved Governor Lamont’s request.

Full text of the letter available here and below.

Dear Chairs Murray and Granger, Vice Chair Collins, and Ranking Member DeLauro,

We write to request that you include funding to assist New England farmers affected by severe flooding in either a fiscal year 2024 spending bill or fiscal year 2023 emergency spending legislation.

July’s historic flooding in the Northeast caused widespread damage across New England. The significant wind and rainfall from the heavy storms caused substantial harm to the region’s agricultural industry, destroying over 3,000 acres and causing sales losses of over $26 million in Connecticut and more than 2,700 acres and $15 million in Massachusetts. In Vermont, floods are estimated to have impacted up to 50% of all farmland in the state. For many farmers, the entirety of their crops will be lost this season.

To make matters worse, many of the farmers affected are poorly protected by existing USDA programs risk management programs. The small- and mid- size nature of many of these businesses make them a poor fit for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) or Federal Crop Insurance. Beyond program design, these farms do not have the resources to dedicate towards the often-burdensome requirements to maintain enrollment, especially with a uniquely diverse crop production.

Beginning with disasters occurring in 2017 and continuing through calendar year 2022, Congress has authorized and allocated ad hoc funding to offset damage to uninsured crops caused by extreme weather. It is clear that there is a need for this authority to be authorized for the current calendar year and for funds to be appropriated to adequately respond to the needs of Northeastern farmers. Additionally, Congress should once again explicitly authorize state block grant authority for these funds, allowing the USDA to most efficiently get relief funding out the door.

There is precedent for Congress providing increased disaster assistance to farmers through annual spending bills and we believe such aid is again warranted. We strongly urge the committee to include this funding in any spending legislation that advances this year. 

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