Warner & Kaine Announce $60.9 Million in Disaster Assistance for Farmers in Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced$60,900,000in federal funding to help farmers in Virginia recover from Hurricane Helene. This funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, will be distributed to farmers to help repair and cover infrastructure, timber, and market losses from Hurricane Helene. The funding was included in thedisaster relief packagethat the senators pushed to pass last December.
“Hurricane Helene was devastating to many in Virginia, and it’s critical that we help our farmers get back on their feet as quickly as possible,”said the senators.”We’re glad this funding will provide needed support to farmers in rural Virginia. We will continue to do all we can to help every Virginian recover.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Warner and Kaine were vocal advocates for significant federal resources to support Virginia’s recovery, andbothsenatorsmetwith Virginians impacted by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia. This March, Warner and Kaine joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollinsurging the USDA to quickly publish clear guidelineson administering disaster relief aid to farmers following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Immediately following the hurricanes, Warner and Kainesuccessfully urgedthe Biden Administration to submit a supplemental funding request to cover the costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
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