WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement to applaud the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement of new disaster recovery assistance for livestock producers impacted by floods and wildfires. Through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for 2023 and 2024 Flood and Wildfire (ELRP 2023 and 2024 FW), USDA will provide $1 billion to help producers offset rising supplemental feed costs caused by natural disasters. 

“The flooding of Tulare Lake in 2023 was devastating for the Central Valley, and I’ve worked for years to make sure our producers have the tools they need to recover,” said Congressman Valadao. “Dairy farmers faced heavy property damage, feed losses, and transportation costs from moving livestock, and today’s USDA announcement is a major step forward. Expanding the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) will help address these losses and move us closer to making our farmers and dairymen whole. I’m grateful to USDA for their partnership throughout this process and look forward to working directly with the administration to make sure we get relief into the hands of CA-22 producers as soon as possible.”

Background:

Congressman Valadao has long led efforts to secure relief for Central Valley producers. In the 118th Congress, he introduced the Agriculture Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which would provide an additional $14 billion to USDA to aid producers impacted by natural disasters in 2023. He also introduced the Emergency Assistance for Dairy Producers Act, which aimed to ensure dairy producers impacted by the historic flooding of Tulare Lake in 2023 could qualify for Commodity Credit Corporation emergency assistance funds.

Visit the USDA website to learn more.

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