Bean, Rubio, Scott Urge USDA to Expedite Aid for Hurting Florida Agricultural Producers

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04), along with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), and the entire Florida Delegation urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to expedite critical aid for Florida’s farmers and agricultural producers as they recover from the destructive impacts of the storms.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton brought high winds, flooding, and damage across Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates the total crop and infrastructure losses range from $2 to $3.3 billion. The State of Florida has requested federal agriculture disaster designations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to compensate impacted counties.

Upon introduction, Congressman Bean said, “Hurricanes Helene and Milton delivered a severe blow to our farmers, growers, and agricultural community, and they are in desperate need of federal assistance. Agriculture is critical to our state— generating more than $182.6 billion in annual revenue and providing more than 2.5 million jobs. I’m proud to join Senator Rubio, Senator Scott, and my colleagues in calling on Secretary Vilsack to provide swift disaster relief to help our producers recover and rebuild Northeast Florida’s agricultural industry.”

Senator Rubio said, "The devastation from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton has hit Florida’s farmers hard, and the impacts are rippling through our state. These back-to-back storms wiped out crops, destroyed infrastructure, and put countless livelihoods in jeopardy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture must act swiftly to deliver the critical aid our agricultural producers need to rebuild and recover. Florida can’t do this alone, and our farmers deserve nothing less than our full support.”

In the letter, the Florida lawmakers wrote, “These back-to-back major hurricanes have decimated Florida agriculture, our state’s second largest industry, which generates more than $182.6 billion in annual revenue and provides more than 2.5 million jobs.…. As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to work with USDA to best assist the producers who feed our nation. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter.”

Bean, Rubio, and Scott sent the letter with Reps. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Michael Waltz (R-FL), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Bill Posey (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Greg Steube (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Kathy Castor (D-FL).

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

###