On the recordDecember 20, 2018
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of any funding bill, including funding for the border wall, as well as funding for our communities and farmers who have been hit hard by natural disasters. For those of us representing rural communities, we know how important the agriculture community is, not just to the livelihood of those areas, but to our entire Nation. Our farmers are often the unsung heroes of our Nation, helping to create and maintain the breadbasket that our country is known for. In short, the American farmer feeds the world. It is not by accident that American agriculture produces the safest and most abundant food supply in the world. It is through blood, sweat, and tears over generations. In my home State of Georgia, agriculture is our top industry. Blueberries represent a $1 billion industry across Georgia, and the commodity is the backbone in many of our communities. After several hurricanes and other natural disasters, it is past time that Congress takes a stand to support our agriculture community by addressing their needs. I have been fighting for months to secure the disaster relief needed by our farming community, especially blueberries. Plain and simple, disaster relief funding must be included in any end-of-the-year funding package. Georgia has faced devastating weather recently, including hurricanes and freezes. Georgians in every corner of the State are feeling the impact.…
