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APRIL
17, 2006 ISSUE
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DISASTER
RELIEF BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE -
Rep. Collin Peterson,
D-Minn., introduced new disaster relief legislation in the House April 5, which
would provide disaster relief to farmers and ranchers who have experienced weather-related
crop losses, loss of livestock and damage to livestock feed supplies.
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- The
measure is similar to an amendment to a supplemental appropriations bill passed
earlier this month by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The supplemental bill
also contains funding for the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina relief.
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- The
Senate and Peterson bills both would provide payments to farmers who had at least
a 35 percent production loss due to weather in 2005. Payment rate would be set
at 50 percent of the established price for the crop. The 95 percent crop value
cap and deduction for crop insurance indemnities would be removed.
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- The
Emergency Disaster Assistance Act of 2006 also will assist farmers who were overwhelmed
by energy prices that spiked following last year's hurricanes. Energy-related
farm expenses increased by more than $6 billion last year compared to the previous
year, which reduced farm income.
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- The
bill has attracted 25 original co-sponsors including Florida’s Mark Foley
and Allen Boyd.
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