1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             urging the United States House of Representatives to 
  1.3             pass legislation for federal disaster assistance to 
  1.4             agriculture. 
  1.5      
  1.6      WHEREAS, the United States Senate, in a 79-to-16 bipartisan 
  1.7   vote, approved a comprehensive disaster assistance package for 
  1.8   agriculture as an amendment to the Interior Department 
  1.9   appropriations legislation for fiscal year 2003; and 
  1.10     WHEREAS, the legislation adopted by the United States 
  1.11  Senate provides emergency funding to respond to production 
  1.12  losses and increased feed costs as a result of weather-related 
  1.13  natural disasters; and 
  1.14     WHEREAS, the assistance would be available to all eligible 
  1.15  crop and livestock producers, including specialty crop 
  1.16  producers, for both 2001 and 2002 in a manner consistent with 
  1.17  the assistance programs utilized in prior production years; and 
  1.18     WHEREAS, this assistance will maintain America's 
  1.19  traditional commitment to helping those who have suffered from a 
  1.20  variety of natural disasters, including hurricane, tornado, 
  1.21  fire, frost, flood, pests, or drought; and 
  1.22     WHEREAS, the United States Senate legislation represents 
  1.23  the most responsible, efficient, and equitable means to address 
  1.24  the serious economic consequences that are occurring throughout 
  1.25  much of rural Minnesota; and 
  2.1      WHEREAS, the weather-related disasters have reduced both 
  2.2   production levels and product quality through no fault of 
  2.3   America's farmers and ranchers; and 
  2.4      WHEREAS, according to the Minnesota Farm Service Agency, 
  2.5   overall almost five million acres of rich agricultural lands 
  2.6   have been affected by the adverse weather this year; NOW, 
  2.7   THEREFORE, 
  2.8      BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  2.9   that it commends the leadership of the United States Senate in 
  2.10  passing much-needed disaster assistance for our family farmers.  
  2.11     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it urges the United States 
  2.12  House of Representatives to approve the United States Senate's 
  2.13  emergency disaster legislation and urges the President of the 
  2.14  United States to support it and sign it into law. 
  2.15     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.16  State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.17  memorial and transmit them to the President of the United 
  2.18  States, the committees of the United States House of 
  2.19  Representatives with jurisdiction over agriculture and disaster 
  2.20  relief, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.