House Committee on Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson was part of a recent bipartisan tour of hurricane damage sustained in Florida and Georgia. He released the following statement:
“Traveling to the Southeast, I was able to see firsthand the devastating impact of the recent hurricanes. Hurricanes Milton and Helene hit our agricultural sector especially hard, highlighting the urgent need for disaster relief. I want to thank Rep. Austin Scott and Rep. Kat Cammack for the invitation. I am committed to identifying resources to help our hardworking producers and rural communities fully recover and thrive.”
Thompson was joined by Reps. Doug La Malfa and Darren Soto. The purpose of the tour was to assess damage, hear from producers and have boots on the ground to gain perspective of the response.
Congressman Scott
Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08): “I’m thankful to Chairman Thompson for visiting Georgia’s Eighth district to survey the damage after Helene. Georgia’s farmers need help, and I appreciate the Chairman taking the time to meet with them firsthand so we can better work together for relief.”
The tour in Georgia included a stop in Pearson to survey a damaged pecan orchard. Members also traveled to Broxton to meet with poultry and pecan producers and representatives from the University of Georgia. The overall economic impact of Helene to Georgia’s agricultural sector is estimated at $6.46 billion.
The Members made multiple stops in Florida, including meeting with fruit and vegetable producers in Jennings, Florida. According to a preliminary assessment by Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Hurricane Milton caused between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion in damages to Florida’s crops and agricultural infrastructure.
Congresswoman Cammack
Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03): “I’m grateful to Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson for visiting the Florida and Georgia areas impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Helene devastated my district at the end of August, generating billions in agriculture losses for some of our major crops. While the USDA response has been lackluster, I’m grateful for my colleagues and Chairman Thompson who are committed to ensuring we deliver the necessary aid to our hardworking producers.”