PRINTER'S NO. 2357
No. 261 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY McCALL, STABACK, WALKO, SURRA, YUDICHAK, VEON,
MANN, CALTAGIRONE, SOLOBAY, MANDERINO, CAPPABIANCA, LaGROTTA,
GEORGE, PESCI, EVANS, LAUGHLIN, LESCOVITZ, BELARDI, HANNA,
COY, READSHAW, TIGUE, WRIGHT, DALEY, GORDNER, BEBKO-JONES,
RUBLEY, DeWEESE, DeLUCA, WOJNAROSKI, HERSHEY, MELIO, GRUCELA,
LUCYK, CORRIGAN, BELFANTI, FRANKEL, SHANER, CAWLEY, DALLY,
ROBERTS, FEESE, ADOLPH, BROWNE, VAN HORNE, TANGRETTI, EACHUS,
M. COHEN, PETRARCA, MUNDY, SANTONI, TRAVAGLIO, HESS, DAILEY,
STEELMAN, McILHINNEY, JAMES, RAMOS, FREEMAN, CURRY, JOSEPHS
AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 4, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS,
OCTOBER 4, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Governor to request to the President of the United
2 States that Pennsylvania be placed under a Federal disaster
3 declaration in securing drought grant assistance for
4 Pennsylvania farmers.
5 WHEREAS, The drought conditions of 1999 have been considered
6 the worst of the century by the scientific community; and
7 WHEREAS, The drought conditions have placed an extreme
8 economic hardship on farmers in this Commonwealth; and
9 WHEREAS, In the agricultural community, some farmers are
10 reporting an almost 100% crop loss in parts of this
11 Commonwealth; and
12 WHEREAS, The agricultural community has been confronted with
13 many obstacles and now must endure drought emergency conditions;
14 and
1 WHEREAS, Low water supplies or total lack of water has
2 endangered the livelihood of farmers in this Commonwealth and
3 has potentially harmed the agricultural economic infrastructures
4 in this Commonwealth; and
5 WHEREAS, The early estimates of losses for farmers in this
6 Commonwealth has been in excess of $500 million, and this number
7 is almost certain to rise; and
8 WHEREAS, Many experts believe that available loans fall short
9 in relief for the farmers in this Commonwealth; and
10 WHEREAS, A federal disaster declaration from the President
11 would ultimately provide Federal grant money; and
12 WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has the ability to
13 enact emergency supplemental appropriations for farmers in this
14 Commonwealth who are in a crisis situation due to these drought
15 conditions; and
16 WHEREAS, With the declaration, Federal departments and
17 agencies are authorized to implement grants; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the Governor seek Federal disaster declaration
19 from the President of the United States in securing grant
20 assistance for farmers in this Commonwealth; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
22 the Governor.
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