{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6113", "USDA APPROVES DISASTER DESIGNATION FOR U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DUE TO DROUGHT", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "VI", "Stacey E. Plaskett", "P000610", "plaskett.house.gov", "plaskett", "https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "For Immediate Release Contact: Tionee Scotland\n\nAugust 20, 2026 202-808-6129\n\nPRESS RELEASE\n\nUSDA APPROVES DISASTER DESIGNATION FOR U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS DUE TO DROUGHT\n\nU.S. Virgin Islands \u2013 Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) designated St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John as primary natural disaster areas due to ongoing drought conditions across the Territory. Farm operators on all three islands are now eligible to apply for emergency loan assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), following the designation issued on August 20, 2026, by Deputy Under Secretary Brooke S. Appleton on behalf of USDA.\n\nThe designation \u2014 number 2026N00002336 \u2014 covers the entire Territory due to severe drought conditions recorded by the U.S. Drought Monitor. In 2019, as a result of Congresswoman Plaskett\u2019s advocacy with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Drought Monitor expanded to include the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to providing a general summary of current drought conditions, the U.S. Drought Monitor can trigger eligibility for permanent drought disaster relief programs. Until the drought monitor was extended to the Virgin Islands under Congresswoman Plaskett, farmers and others would be unable to receive drought support.\n\n\u201cOur farmers have carried the weight of this drought for months, and this designation is a critical first step toward getting them the relief they need,\u201d said Congresswoman Plaskett. \u201cAgriculture is a vital part of our Territory\u2019s food security and our economy. I will continue fighting to make sure Virgin Islands farmers have every federal resource available to recover and rebuild. My office has been, and will continue to be, in close contact with the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and USDA to support our agriculture community.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Plaskett added, \u201cI extend my appreciation to the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Dr. Louis Petersen, as well as Governor Bryan and his Administration for their advocacy on behalf of our agricultural community. This disaster designation, which unlocks federal relief for our local farmers and ranchers, reflects their commitment to the Virgin Islands.\u201d\n\nFarm operators in the designated areas may be considered for FSA emergency loans, provided eligibility requirements are met. Farmers have eight months from the date of the Secretarial disaster declaration to apply. Each application is considered individually by FSA, based on the extent of production losses and the applicant\u2019s security and repayment ability.\n\nVirgin Islands farmers seeking assistance are encouraged to contact the local USDA Farm Service Agency office:\n\nUSDA Farm Service Agency \u2013 U.S. Virgin Islands\n\nSion Farm Shopping Center\n\nPhone: (340) 773-9146, ext. 100\n\nFor more information, you may also contact Congresswoman Plaskett\u2019s offices on St. Croix at 340-778-5900 or St. Thomas at 340-774-4408.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"]], "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://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6113"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4759278856217861, "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"}