The $400 million drought relief investment is a win for vulnerable down-ballot Western Democrats.
July 31, 2024
The Agriculture Department is set to launch a new $400 million drought program Thursday to assist Western states grappling with the fallout of a 21 year long mega-drought.
The Water Savings Commodity Program will provide the new funding to local water districts in 12 western states to help them manage drought conditions, according to the two people who were granted anonymity to discuss the private conversations.
Oil and gas companies continue to drill using water needed for agriculture despite the drought. The fracking measures deployed take disproportionate amounts of water away from farming and consumer needs. The water is then recycled. However, scientific reposts had said it remains too contaminated to use. The fossil fuels drilled for add to the climate crisis – fueling global warming the the greenhouse gases that they create when consumed. This is why the UN has stated that we must stop drilling – for the future of humanity and the lives of billions of people around the world.
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and several dozen western Democrats sent an April letter to USDA calling on the Biden administration to invest more in drought relief, water conservation and watershed restoration to help states manage the historic mega-drought that is crippling their agricultural producers and other industries.
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