On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed into law a $19.1 billion disaster relief package for Americans, which includes $4.5 billion to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for agricultural-related losses, emergency timber restoration, farmland repair and watershed recovery work. It also provides $3.3 billion for the Corps of Engineers to repair damages from natural disasters, to invest in new flood and storm damage reduction projects and to make the nation more resilient to future natural disasters. The Department of Transportation will receive $1.6 billion for the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program. Senator Chuck Grassley says delivery of this package is long overdue. “Politics shouldn’t be played when Americans need help recovering from disasters. I secured specific relief for farmers whose grain bins busted because of flooding. This should help those affected, especially in southwest Iowa, in the continued effort to rebuild and recover,” he says. Fourth District Congressman, Steve King, says he has been working closely with leaders in the communities affected by the floods. “I am confident that they will welcome the opportunity to add federal resources to their efforts as they work towards full recovery,” King says.
