Congress has announced that Georgia will receive much needed funds to assist farmers affected by Hurricane Michael last October.

Bainbridge was hit by Hurricane Michael on Oct. 10, 2018, blowing away crops that totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses for farmers. Timber forests were destroyed and infrastructure was badly damaged.

Despite repairs, the effects of Michael are still felt.

The $19.1 billion disaster relief package includes $3 billion to provide critical agriculture disaster relief for farmers recovering in the wake of Hurricane Michael, along with additional funds for communities in Georgia and other states. The measure passed the Senate 85-8. Next, the House must act on the measure before it can be signed into law.

“President Trump has broken through the gridlock to get disaster relief across the finish line. Finally, farmers in Georgia are closer than ever to getting the assistance they desperately need after Hurricane Michael,” said Georgia Senator David Perdue. “I want to thank Senators Shelby and Leahy for their diligent and bipartisan work in shepherding this process. This bipartisan package is a major win for our agriculture communities in the Southeast. It’s a win for families and businesses who were devastated by floods, wildfires, and historic hurricanes across 12 states, Puerto Rico, and the Mariana Islands. This is also a win for the people of Puerto Rico who the President has consistently helped. However, the fact that it took eight months to find common ground on a disaster relief package is an absolute embarrassment. I hope the U.S. House will move swiftly and deliver this bill to the President’s desk. The American people need to know we have their backs.”

The $19.1 billion disaster relief package includes $3 billion to provide critical agriculture disaster relief for farmers recovering in the wake of Hurricane Michael, along with additional funds for communities in Georgia and other states. The measure passed the Senate 85-8. Next, the House must act on the measure before it can be signed into law.

Last week, the Trump administration announced that Georgia will receive $34.9 million to assist with rebuilding and fixing infrastructure in Southwest and Middle Georgia.

“I want to thank the administration for allocating this much needed funding to areas impacted by the storm,” said Senator Dean Burke. “Although the storm hit last October, there is still a lot more work that needs to be done to repair the severe damage that was caused to numerous counties in our state. While this funding is greatly appreciated, I want to encourage our friends in Washington to continue fighting so that our farmers can also receive necessary aid. I look forward to working with our senators, members of congress and the administration to bring additional aid and funding to our region. Our citizens are resilient and I am encouraged by their determination to rebuild and move on.”