Kemp: We will not stand down until Congress stands up for farmers

ATLANTA – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has again demanded action on recovery funds for farmers impacted by Hurricane Michael.

“Georgia farmers, who suffered generational losses during Hurricane Michael, are on the verge of bankruptcy,” Kemp said. “Yet a handful of vindictive politicians refuse to end the gridlock and provide the resources these hard-working Americans so desperately need.

“This gridlock exposes the rotten core of some in Congress. They would rather crush an entire industry — destroying the livelihood of countless Americans — than do something that the opposition party wants. This dire situation highlights the brokenness in Washington. We have reached a low point as a nation.”

Kemp used some of the harshest language he’s used in calling for the recovery funds, placing emphasis on losses suffered in this region.

“We refuse to excuse the political games that exploit our farmers and discount the dire situation in southwest Georgia,” the governor said. “We will not settle for gridlock that compromises the future of so many hard-working Georgians. This is not an empty threat from a red state governor. This is a promise — we will not stand down until Congress stands up for our farmers.”

Agriculture is Georgia’s largest — and oldest — industry, employing one in seven Georgians and contributing $74 billion to the state’s economy annually. Hurricane Michael made landfall on Oct. 10 as the third-most intense hurricane in our nation’s history, dealing $2.5 billion in damage to Georgia crops alone. Georgia has received no disaster relief funds appropriated by Congress since the storm’s devastating damage.

File Photo