Cornyn and Cruz Tout Disaster Aid And Cotton Provisions Ahead Of Spending Bill Vote

Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz issued a joint press release Thursday ahead of a vote on a two year spending bill that if passed would avert another government shutdown.

In the press release, Cornyn and Cruz tout $89 billion in disaster relief that could be heading to Texas and other states if the spending bill is passed. The Senate version of disaster relief is an $8 billion dollar increase from a House version passed in December. The package also includes key provisions for cotton farmers.

“While Texans have begun the rebuilding process in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, our state is still in need of resources as we recover from the most extreme rain event in our nation’s history,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I applaud the Texas congressional delegation for taking the first step, and I appreciate Governor Abbott and the Senate Appropriations Committee for working with us to strengthen this bill.  Helping Texans recover and rebuild has been my top priority, and I’m urging my colleagues in both the House and the Senate to pass this critical relief bill as soon as possible.”

 

“Texas is working together to recover and rebuild stronger than ever,” Sen. Cruz said. “I am committed to working tirelessly to ensure that those Texans still reeling from Harvey’s devastating winds and floods receive the aid they are entitled to under federal law. We have already secured more than $50 billion in emergency funding for storm victims in 2017, coupled with the Cruz-Cornyn-Rubio legislation proving more than $5.5 billion in targeted tax relief. This latest disaster relief bill is the next step in our State’s road to recovery, and I am gratified that John Cornyn and I have been able to build upon and improve the bill that was sent to us by the House of Representatives to give the state of Texas the resources it desperately needs, including by providing more funding to advance critical Army Corps flood management projects that will help the state mitigate against future flooding events, such as potentially completing a third reservoir in the Houston area.”

The relief package also includes protections for cotton that area producers have been wanting. According to DairyHerd.com, the two year agreement would be huge to area cotton farmers.

The long-awaited disaster relief package is included in the deal which also brings a change for cotton and dairy farmers. Wiesemeyer says the two-year budget deal would make seed cotton eligible for commodity support programs through the farm bill and would eliminate the $20 million cap on the livestock gross margin program (LGM).

Congress has until midnight tonight to pass a spending bill or another government shutdown will happen.