Jerry Moran: “Much of the central and western United States has been suffering from a grinding, unending drought that continues to…”

“Much of the central and western United States has been suffering from a grinding, unending drought that continues to harm farmers and ranchers and the rural communities in which they live. Compounding these losses is every disaster imaginable: hail, frost, tornado damage, and, yes, even flooding. For nearly half of the 8 years that I have had the opportunity to represent Kansans in Congress, much of our State has been in a severe drought. It gives me no joy to speak before my colleagues tonight and describe the difficulties that Kansas farmers and ranchers are enduring. With a resolve that finds itself in the roots of a previous generation of hardy pioneers, they are struggling to survive. The destruction from three hurricanes on homes, farms, businesses, schools, local economies, and, most importantly, the loss of life in Florida and other Gulf Coast States cannot be overstated. The people of Kansas mourn the deaths and support the rebuilding of lives and the reconstruction of those communities. Adverse weather conditions have no respect for State lines and, unfortunately, Kansas and other central and western areas of the United States have been greatly affected by weather as well. Mr. Speaker, I would much rather be standing here before you with the news that the drought has broken and that the rains have returned.”