WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Ronny Jackson (TX-13) reintroduced the Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act. This legislation will help to provide desperately needed relief to Texas livestock producers still reeling from the catastrophic wildfires that swept through the Texas Panhandle last year. Specifically, this bill addresses a gap in current disaster assistance by requesting that the Department of Agriculture establish additional payment rates for unborn livestock lost when gestating animals perish in natural disasters. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.
"The devastating wildfires that tore through our region claimed over 12,000 cattle, but that figure doesn't account for the countless unborn calves also lost," said Rep. Ronny Jackson. “This legislation will establish vital compensation for unborn livestock losses, providing Texas ranchers the targeted financial support they urgently need to rebuild their operations and preserve our cattle industry's legacy following these devastating wildfires. I was proud to fight for this critical enhancement of the livestock safety net in the House Agriculture Committee Budget Reconciliation text earlier this week, and I urge my Senate colleagues to swiftly send this provision to the President’s desk.”
“The Texas Panhandle is a critical component of our state’s agricultural economy,” said Sen. Ted Cruz. “Last year I visited areas devastated by the wildfires, and I made a commitment to the Texans affected by that disaster to secure the disaster relief they told me they needed. The Livestock Indemnity Program ensures that losses from unborn calves are included into disaster relief calculations, which will help our cattle ranchers recover and rebuild. I’m grateful to Representative Jackson for championing this measure in the House Agriculture budget bill, and I urge my colleagues to move quickly to get this measure to the President’s desk.”
"Due to recent devastating wildfires, many cattle producers have suffered livestock losses, including the loss of unborn calves,” said Allison Rivera, Director of Government Affairs at NCBA. “Current federal law fails to compensate producers for unborn calves, but this legislation would change that thanks to Sen. Cruz and Rep. Ronny Jackson’s bill to provide an additional payment rate for unborn calves as part of the Livestock Indemnity Program. America’s cattlemen and women are thankful for Rep. Jackson’s efforts to support the cattle industry.”
"As Texas farmers and ranchers face unpredictable natural disasters and are still recovering from 2024 wildfires, providing flexibility within the USDA Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) would provide much needed certainty for producers,” said Russell Boening, President of Texas Farm Bureau. “We thank Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Ronny Jackson for introducing the ‘Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) Enhancement Act’ to compensate ranchers who lost unborn calves due the wildfires. Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) appreciates leaders like Sen. Cruz, Sen. Cornyn, and Congressman Jackson who recognize challenges and act on solutions to help our hardworking cattlemen and women during times of need.”
"The Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) is a helpful resource for ranchers recovering from natural disasters, but its effectiveness is limited by a gap in the program,” said Carl Ray Polk Jr., President of TSCRA. “The LIP fails to compensate ranchers for the loss of their calf crop. In the Texas Panhandle, the devastating effects of this gap are particularly glaring in the wake of last year’s wildfires. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) thanks Congressman Jackson and Senator Cruz for addressing this gap in the LIP Enhancement Act. This legislation will help the LIP better reflect the true losses faced by ranchers and shorten the time needed to recover from devastating events like wildfires."
Bill text can be found here.
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