Klobuchar and Others Seek Meeting with Bush on Farm Help

01/30/2007

Bipartisan Group of Senators, Push to Meet with Bush on Disaster Assistance for Farmers


(Rochester, MN) -- Minnesota Farmers Have Lost Hundreds of Millions in Crop Value from Years of Floods, Storms and Droughts

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today joined 16 of her Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to President Bush requesting a meeting to discuss the need for disaster assistance for farmers. Over the last two years, flooding, winter storms and drought have cost Minnesota farmers hundreds of millions in lost crops.

The senators’ letter states that despite Congress’ work to secure emergency assistance for farmers, the President has “not been supportive of our efforts.” The letter goes on to state the senators’ hope that once the President hears their concerns, he will help in providing the “desperately needed assistance for agriculture producers across the country.”

“I am committed to fighting for fair disaster assistance for Minnesota farmers,” said Klobuchar. “They have been devastated by circumstances beyond their control, and they deserve the support of the President.”

In addition to signing the letter, Klobuchar cosponsored two disaster assistance bills in her first two weeks in office: Senator Conrad (D-ND)’s bill which would provide disaster relief for the 2005 and 2006 crop years, and Senator Dorgan’s (D-ND) bill which would put into place a permanent program for disaster relief.