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August 8, 2012

Obama Unveils New Aid for Historic Drought 
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President Obama has unveiled an additional $30 million in federal aid to
combat the nation's worst drought in 25 years. Nearly two-thirds of the
contiguous United States has been found to be in moderate to exceptional
drought, ravaging fields and driving up the price of basic staples. On
Tuesday, President Obama unveiled the new aid and called on Congress to
approve a farm bill assisting rural areas.

President Obama: "It is a historic drought and it is having a profound
impact on farmers and ranchers all across many states. Now, at my
direction, the Department of Agriculture led by Secretary [Tom] Vilsack
has been working with every other agency across the federal government
to make sure that we are taking every single possible step to help
farmers and ranchers to fight back and recover from this disaster.
Obviously, Congress has a role here. Congress needs to pass a farm bill
that will not only provide important disaster relief tools, but also
make necessary reforms and give farmers the certainty that they
deserve."

 

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