releases: http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398646
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| http://dennisross.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398646 | Rep. Dennis A. Ross: Florida Citrus to Benefit from Hurricane Relief Package | 2017-12-19 | 2017 | 2017-12 | Republican | House | FL | Dennis Ross | R000593 | dennisross.house.gov | legacy | U.S. Rep. Dennis A. Ross hailed the Houses newly unveiled disaster relief bill on Monday, noting that the $2.6 billion in crop relief funding would go a long way to help farmers in the Sunshine State. Thanks in part to Hurricane Irma and the continued problems with citrus greening, last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecast the worst Florida orange season since 1944-1945. It took a great deal of work, but we finally reached a deal that will help Florida farmers recover from the storm with $2.6 billion and prevent these jobs from going overseas, said Rep. Ross. While we still have a long road ahead, Im glad that Florida citrus will have a fighting chance.On NPR last week, Rep. Ross noted that he and others in the Florida and Texas delegations would not support a continuing resolution to fund the government without the funding. He further warned that failure to offer relief could mean losing a key Florida industry to overseas competition, undermining a crucial part of President Trumps agenda. We were hit obviously through the eye by Hurricane Irma. My district has been one of the most abundant producers of citrus in the world for years. At least until this year We provide 60 percent of the orange juice to the United States. Absent relief were going to lose an industry thats going to have 60,000 job impact, and were going to see it go overseas. Full transcript of the interview, and details of the bill below: Rep. Ross: Weve asked our leadership. Theyve said, Yes, were going to provide for you, were going to take care of you, but its been three months, and weve had no relief. The only thing theyve told us, the other day in conference, Were not ready to provide it, meaning that they havent gone through whatever they need to go through over a three-month period, and weve given them every assessment of value of damage. NPR: So thats the only explanation? We should say, you are a Republican. Your party controls Congress, the White House. Are your Republicans colleagues giving you anything more than Were not ready in terms of an argument you can take your constituents? Ross: No. But then leadership did say, Now that doesnt mean we wont be ready by next week to provide it. But just as of Thursday or Wednesday, we were not ready to provide the supplemental relief. Now, I dont know where the breakdown is, but I dont think theres any argument over the devastation that was sustained in both Texas or Florida from these hurricanes. Now, we have given so much more from this federal government to Superstorm Sandy, to Hurricane Katrina than we have to Harvey and to Irma. We can do this, and I am very concerned with a President who wants to make sure we maintain our jobs here in the United States that we dont see our industries go overseas, and here we are seeing the foremost industry, the #2 economic provider in the state of Florida, quite frankly in their last breaths. NPR: I just want to ask you about the potential danger of this strategy, because if you block this funding bill and the government were to shut down, wouldnt that deprive some of your constituents of some services they might really need to get by in this time? Ross: Our leadership knows that, they know what it takes, theyve already done 3 supplemental relief bills, theres no reason they cant do this other one. It is on them as to whether we shut down the government or not. Not on us or on Texas because of the damage we sustained due to these storms. Details of the bill are below: H.R. 4667, the Emergency Disaster Aid Package, provides $81 billion in emergency funding for disasters caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as California wildfires. This emergency funding will continue the efforts to recover, rebuild, and reduce the impact of future natural disasters. The two previous disaster supplemental bills enacted into law provided critical funding for immediate life-saving response and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the hurricanes and wildfires. Funding in the Emergency Disaster Aid Package provides additional funding for recovery efforts across the country to rebuild affected communities. Federal Emergency Management Administration - $27.6 billion FEMA Disaster Relief Fund: $27.5 billion to provide critical funding to assist the ongoing federal disaster response Allows up to $4 billion to be provided for Community Disaster Loans (CDLs) Transportation, Housing and Urban Development - $ 27.8 billion Community Development Block Grants Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR): $26.1 billion for housing and infrastructure needs $13.56 billion for grants to states, tribes, and territories for unmet housing needs and business losses $12.5 billion for mitigation efforts to help communities protect against future disasters. This funding can provide for housing elevation, buyouts in the flood plain, water/sewer infrastructure enhancements, public infrastructure hardening (e.g. storm proofing public buildings), etc. Increases oversight, accountability, and transparency of CDBG funds Federal Highway Administrations Emergency Relief: $1.4 billion to address all current damages to federal highways caused by designated disasters Army Corps of Engineers - $12.11 billion $12.11 billion to repair existing damages by natural disasters and for studies and projects to reduce the risk of future natural disasters $10.5 billion for repairs to ongoing construction projects, and to expedite construction projects that will help mitigate future disaster damage; $370 million to repair damages along the Mississippi River and its tributaries; $608 million for Operation and Maintenance to repair damages, such as dredging of navigation channels; $537 million for Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies to repair damages; and $75 million to expedite studies to help mitigate future disaster damage. Labor, HHS, Education - $3.99 billion Hurricane Education Recovery: $2.9 billion to help displaced students get back to school Funding can be used for both public and private schools Provides additional funding for public health response activities Agriculture - $3.8 billion Crops: $2.6 billion in agriculture assistance, including citrus Emergency Watershed Protection: $541 million for watershed and flood prevention efforts Emergency Conservation: $400 million Rural Development: $165 million for rural water and waste disposal systems Small Business Administration Disaster Loans - $1.66 billion To assist small businesses and homeowners repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets. Defense Facilities $1.5 billion Repairs Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Reserve, National Guard, Coast Guard, and medical military facilities Additional Provisions Seed cotton is made eligible for the farm safety net This is a budget-neutral solution that provides a measure of certainty to cotton farmers, including many who are still struggling to recover from the recent disasters, as they prepare for the upcoming crop year Eliminates the caps of crop insurance policies for livestock producers This will allow for the development of crop insurance policies for livestock producers, (including dairy farmers), ensuring that adequate risk management tools are available the next time disaster strikes Requires the Governor of Puerto Rico to submit to Congress a Recovery Plan that was developed in coordination and certified by the Oversight Board describing the Commonwealths 12- and 24-month economic and disaster recovery plan Provides disaster related tax relief to CA Wildfires and other communities affected by hurricanes Treats Puerto Rico low-income communities as a qualified opportunity zone Disaster Recovery Reform Act makes critical reforms to FEMAs disaster response and recovery program | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |