WASHINGTON— U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement in support of the House Agriculture Committee’s passage of an extension of the Wildfire Hurricane Indemnity Program (WHIP+) disaster program for 2020 and 2021 losses:
“I commend the House Ag Committee for passing an extension of WHIP+ for 2020 and 2021 losses.
In 2020, producers faced drought, wildfires and a derecho that devastated the corn crop. This year is shaping up to be equally challenging.
Flooding along the Mississippi Delta has destroyed crops in Arkansas and our neighboring states. The 2021 fire season is underway and wildfires are tearing through Western states. On top of this, well over half of the U.S. is experiencing drought that continues to worsen as the summer goes on.
We need to explore all viable opportunities to reach producers who have been impacted by these natural disasters, and I appreciate Chairman David Scott and Ranking Member GT Thompson’s leadership on this front.
I am committed to working in a bipartisan manner with my colleagues in the Senate to find a vehicle to deliver this much-needed relief to affected farmers and ranchers.”