WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Nebraska is still reeling from some of the largest wildfires in the state’s history, scorching more than 800,000 acres and devastating ranches and farmland. Congress is moving quickly to expedite wildfire disaster assistance for Nebraska farmers and ranchers, with new legislation aimed at streamlining recovery and restoring agricultural land.
Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) filed a bill to expedite federal disaster relief for farmers and ranchers across her home state of Nebraska, and her colleagues in the Senate have given it the green light. The bill passed late Tuesday night and is now headed to the U.S. House for consideration.
If signed into law, the bill would speed up a producer’s access to the emergency conservation program and the emergency forest restoration program, both of which were created to reduce the burden of natural disasters.
Fischer joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to provide an update on the bill and ongoing recovery efforts.
In her interview with RFD News, Fischer outlined what the legislation entails and how it is designed to support impacted producers. She says the legislation would allow other producers from other states to receive disaster payments sooner, rather than waiting a year or more. Fischer also recapped her recent visit with Brooke Rollins to survey wildfire damage and meet with residents as recovery continues.
“It’s important that we start to address this immediately,” Sen. Fischer told RFD NEWS. “So I had a bill that would get disaster aid out to aid producers when they’re hit by disaster. I’ve had this [idea] for a few years now, and it’s been included in other bills.”
Fischer is urging the House to act quickly so President Trump can sign it.
“It’s been passed by the Senate, [and] the House has passed a version of it, but we need to make it a lot. Tuesday, I went on the floor — after being out in Nebraska Monday with the Secretary, viewing the damage that’s happening out there with these horrible fires — and I asked for unanimous consent on the bill on the floor. We have no objections. So now it’s passed the Senate.”
Fischer also discussed potential ripple effects on agriculture following the fires, identified where the greatest needs remain for affected communities moving forward, and emphasized the importance of the agricultural community coming together during times of crisis.
