Washington, DC  – Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02) and 14 colleagues have formally requested urgent action from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid farmers and rural communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the bipartisan group of lawmakers outlined specific steps to ensure a swift and effective recovery for agricultural producers across the Southeast.

“Hurricane Helene has caused significant damage to our agricultural communities, and it's vital that we act quickly to support the recovery process,” said Congressman Dunn. “I’m calling on USDA to deploy Farm Service Agency (FSA) strike teams, utilize local rainfall data for accurate damage assessments, and provide disaster aid through state block grants to give our states the flexibility to address their unique needs.”

The letter emphasized three key actions:

1. Deploy FSA Strike Teams: These teams would be sent to the hardest-hit areas to help farmers navigate the complex disaster relief programs and ensure they receive the assistance they need as quickly as possible.
2. Utilize Local Rainfall Data: The delegation urged the Risk Management Agency (RMA) to collaborate with local stakeholders to improve the accuracy of rainfall data used for crop insurance claims, addressing concerns that current data may not accurately reflect conditions on the ground.
3. Provide Block Grant Disaster Aid: By using state block grants, USDA would expedite aid delivery and provide states with the flexibility to tailor relief to the specific needs of their agricultural communities.

The letter was led by Congresswoman Kat Cammack and co-signed by Florida Representatives Neal Dunn, Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Byron Donalds, Scott Franklin, Laurel Lee, Cory Mills, Mike Waltz, and Daniel Webster, along with Rep. Kat Cammack. Additional signatories included Reps. Rick Allen, Austin Scott, and Buddy Carter of Georgia, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, and Morgan Griffith of Virginia.

Read the full letter here.