Four members of Florida's congressional caucus have come together to introduce a bipartisan bill known as the Restore Agricultural Investment, Stability and Expansion (RAISE) Act of 2023. Representatives Scott Franklin (R-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), and Darren Soto (D-FL) signed off as co-sponsors.
The bill would give the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) more authority to support American farmers and growers, especially after natural disasters.
“After extreme hurricane seasons like the one Florida experienced last year, growers cannot afford to navigate bureaucratic obstacles to get the help they need,” said Rep. Franklin. “I’m pleased that earlier this month the House unanimously passed our bill to give the USDA block grant authority to expedite disaster relief for agricultural producers still recovering from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. This commonsense initiative would make this authority permanent ensuring the federal government can respond as quickly as possible to future emergencies.”
Rep. Wasserman Schultz would go on to mention that the federal government “needs every tool at hand” to support farmers.
“Congress needs to have the back of America’s farmers, and I’m proud to work across the aisle to make sure the crops and agricultural resources that fuel this great nation and its families are protected from increasingly extreme weather threats, something our own citrus industry faces in Florida,” stated Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “From timber to food on our table tops, the federal government needs every tool at hand to help farmers recover from natural disasters.”
In 2018, Congress granted the USDA the authority to provide block grants following the destructive Hurricane Irma. However, that authority was not permanent.
The RAISE Act of 2023 would allow the USDA the ability to issue block grants permanently following natural disasters. This effort would allow emergency relief funds to reach their needed destinations as quickly as possible.
“In Central Florida, our farmers, ranchers, and growers have struggled after devastating hurricanes,” said Rep. Soto. “As these natural disasters get stronger, we must work to ensure that they have the resources to recover, maintain their livelihoods, and keep feeding America.”
Rep. Cammack would also add that this legislation pertains to the continuation of the “important work of feeding our nation.”
“Glad to join Reps. Franklin, Wasserman Schultz, and Soto on this effort to support our Florida producers,” said Rep. Cammack. “When extreme weather threatens our crops, as is often the case in the Sunshine State, we must be prepared to help our farmers recover and continue the important work of feeding our nation.”
According to Rep. Franklin's press release, the bill received unanimous support on the House floor.
