Washington, D.C. – After an extended debate during a House Appropriations Committee markup, U.S. Representatives Bud Cramer (Ala.-05) and Robert Aderholt (Ala.-04) received a commitment from Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Rosa DeLauro that she would work in the upcoming emergency supplemental bill to assist Alabama farmers suffering from exceptional drought.

Today’s commitment resulted from ongoing discussions by Representatives Cramer, Aderholt, and DeLauro regarding relief for communities designated by the Secretary of Agriculture suffering from a D-4 drought.  A D-4 or “exceptional” drought is the highest possible drought classification.

“This is one of the worst droughts in our nation’s history and farmers across the country are counting on us to provide relief,” said Cramer.  “My district is in the bullseye of the drought, and many of them are expecting a near loss of their total crops.  It is critical that we provide farmers in North Alabama the relief they need to keep families in the farming business and keep American agriculture the strongest in the world.”

Representative Aderholt said, “While the federal government has provided some relief in the form of low interest loans, the farmers I’ve spoken with say this isn’t enough and additionally we’ve found that not all those affected by the drought qualify.  There is also the issue of how quickly this aid will get to them.  Time is critical to save pastures and livestock in the areas that have been hit hardest by this record drought.”

Today’s discussions were the latest step by Representative Cramer to bring relief to North Alabama’s farm families.  Representative Cramer and the entire Alabama delegation have fought for relief since the onset of this year’s drought.  Cramer has urged President Bush, Agriculture Secretary Johanns, and other federal officials to provide relief for Alabama farmers.  In addition, during the President’s recent visit to North Alabama, Representative Cramer personally addressed the President onboard Air Force One for agriculture relief.

As a result of efforts by Cramer and the entire delegation, Secretary Johanns designated the entire State of Alabama as a primary natural disaster area, which makes available low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for farmers in all sixty-seven counties.

Representative Cramer continues to push for payments directly to farm families in addition to the emergency loans.  This will be the focus of his upcoming talks on the supplemental appropriations bill.