United States Senator Deb Fischer’s Weekly Column
Recently, devastating wildfires swept Southern California. And flash flooding swamped parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. Some areas of North Carolina, Florida, and other southern states are still rebuilding from the overwhelming damage of Hurricane Helene. Nebraska is no stranger to natural disasters either. From the devastating flooding that caused so much damage in 2019, to the tornadoes that ripped through Omaha area last year, to wildfires that scourge our farmland and ranchland, our state has endured the worst that weather could throw at us.
Whether it’s wildfires in California, hurricanes in the southeast, or natural disasters here at home, these events affect millions of people. But they have a uniquely harmful effect on farmers and ranchers across the country.
Our agricultural producers’ livelihoods are tied to the weather in a way unlike any other occupation. One disaster can destroy their crops and their land, threatening their way of life and source of income. Each time I speak with our state’s farmers and ranchers, I hear about the vital importance of sustaining a strong federal safety net so that they know they will be able to rebuild if natural disaster strikes. A key part of that safety net is effective disaster relief.
Last week, I reintroduced my bipartisan Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) Improvement Act to bolster the federal safety net for America’s producers. Time and again, I’ve heard from farmers and ranchers in crisis about the complications and difficulties of the current ECP and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP). These programs are often slow to respond to wildfires, floods, and other disasters, forcing producers into a holding pattern of uncertainty for months on end. Delays in the ECP and EFRP require producers in crisis to put off necessary repair work or risk beginning the recovery process with no guarantee of help.
Hearing these stories from farmers and ranchers across Nebraska, I knew I needed to help. My bill will expedite producers’ access to federal disaster relief by reforming the ECP and EFRP. It will offer those impacted by disasters the option to receive an increased, up-front cost-share. It will also expand eligibility for federal relief to include any wildfire caused or spread by natural causes and any wildfire caused by the federal government. Finally, it will extend the timeframe for participants to use rehabilitative funds, allowing more time for work to be completed.
I’m optimistic that this bipartisan bill, which was included in both the Democrat and Republican Farm Bill frameworks last Congress, will be part of our 2025 Farm Bill to help America’s farmers and ranchers thrive. In times of crisis, producers deserve relief—not the additional burdens created by cumbersome federal roadblocks. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle can see that, and I’m committed to solving this problem for farmers and ranchers in need.
Especially because Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers face everything from flooding to tornadoes to wildfires, we must be prepared to support them on the federal level. We must offer our producers rapid relief, enabling them to get back on their feet quickly. That’s what the ECP Improvement Act will accomplish. And that’s why I am pushing hard to pass this legislation soon, so that farmers and ranchers can be confident in a strong safety net for when disaster strikes.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
