Thomas Daschle: “South Dakotans have always been generous when our fellow Americans, even those living thousands of miles away, are…”

“South Dakotans have always been generous when our fellow Americans, even those living thousands of miles away, are suffering. After September 11, we saw equipment makers, firefighters, school children, scout troops, church organizations, and countless other South Dakotans donate whatever they could to the victims. One ranch couple, themselves struggling, even sold 100 calves and dedicated the proceeds to the victims. As hurricanes ravaged, and continue to threaten, Florida, South Dakotans sent not only their prayers, but also generators and plywood. Yet, while all of these things have taken place, South Dakota has been experiencing its own disaster, the slow-motion disaster of drought. For the last several years, South Dakotans have been impacted to varying degrees by drought. In fact, 2002 was the worst drought since the Dust Bowl year of 1936. That is why I have worked so hard to get natural disaster aid for our state in the 2002 farm bill.”