{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405812", "Griffith Statement on USDA Disaster Action for Expanded Ninth District Drought Relief", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "H. Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", "morgangriffith", "https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is designating more localities in Virginia\u2019s Ninth District as primary natural disaster areas due to an ongoing drought. As part of this action, the Counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Scott and Wise are set for primary natural disaster area designations.\n\nIn response to this USDA action, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cAgricultural communities in Virginia\u2019s Ninth District face persistent and ongoing drought conditions that demand federal assistance.\n\n\u201cI support this USDA action that extends disaster relief options for more Southwest Virginia farmers.\n\n\u201cI will continue to raise awareness on the issues that affect Ninth District farmers, cattlemen and agricultural leaders.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nCongressman Griffith helped lead federal engagement to secure separate USDA Secretarial natural disaster declarations for Virginia farmers.\n\nIn June, Secretary Rollins approved Virginia\u2019s request.\n\nIn July, Tazewell County also received a primary natural disaster area designation due to recent drought.\n\nIn August, the USDA extended its natural disaster declaration to other Ninth District localities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405812"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.875528134405613, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}