Rubio, Scott, Florida Representatives Call for Emergency Block Grant Assistance Following Helene

Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) and a flurry of Florida U.S. House Representatives from both parties have called for emergency state block grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) following Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the Sunshine State.

It has caused formidable damage to Florida and North Carolina as infrastructure – and most importantly – more than 160 lives have been lost.

In a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Sens. Rubio, Scott, and the Florida representatives cited farmers and growers as the main beneficiaries of these block grants.

“We write in support of the State of Florida’s request for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue a Disaster Declaration for Florida’s counties that were impacted by Hurricane Helene, and urge you to make assistance available immediately in the form of state block grants to expedite support for Florida’s farmers and agricultural producers as they recover from the destructive impacts of the storm,” the letter begins.

The Florida legislators continued by sharing that these block grants are crucial to a flourishing winter and spring harvest.

"Florida’s growers play a critical role in the American food economy. As one of the few states where major agricultural production can occur in the winter and spring months, Florida’s farms provide fresh, domestically grown food to over 100 million Americans along the eastern seaboard when it’s needed most,” wrote Rubio, Scott, and others. “To support the growers and producers who were affected by Hurricane Helene, and to ensure that they can recover from losses and continue their important service of feeding America, the expeditious approval of a Disaster Declaration is necessary to have a successful winter and spring harvest season.”

Finally, the Florida delegation wrote that this move from the USDA would “make a difference” for the Sunshine State’s agriculture industry as immediate assistance is needed following the historic storm.

“Your support for the State of Florida’s request would make a difference for our growers and will assist in their recovery to ensure they can continue to contribute to our food security and national security,” the Floridians concluded.

Joining Senators Rubio and Scott were U.S. Representatives Mike Waltz (R-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Bill Posey (R-FL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), and Greg Steube (R-FL).