During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) questioned Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins on the cancellation of the Foods for Schools Program.
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00:00Morning, Madam Secretary. Thank you for joining us. I want to follow up on hurricane disaster
00:05assistance. Key, key priority for farmers in Georgia, Madam Secretary. It's worth noting
00:14that after Hurricane Michael in 2018, it took the Congress the better part of a year to
00:20pass disaster assistance. We worked together across the aisle here to get it done after
00:24Hurricane Helene in less than 90 days. Here's a quote from Aaron Moses, owner of Moses Pecan
00:33in Uvalda, Georgia. We lost almost our entire 2024 pecan crop when Hurricane Helene hit our
00:39orchards. We lost the majority of our mature pecan trees, which will set our farm's production
00:43back for years. We were thankful that Congress approved disaster assistance funding at the
00:48end of last year, but it's critical that these funds get to those that need help. Here's
00:53a quote from Chris Hopkins, a cotton producer in Toombs County. He said that the storm has
00:58created a void due to loss of yield and quality as well as cost of cleanup that has become
01:03untenable to a first-generation operation like mine. When can farmers in Georgia expect that
01:11hurricane relief, which we passed timely in Congress, to be out the door? Yeah, first of
01:16all, thank you for that. That relief was passed very quickly and very impressively at the end
01:22of last year, and so we have been tracking it very, very closely. I have visited Georgia.
01:27Hopefully next time I'll see you. I've visited some of those peanut farmers especially. I've seen the
01:31devastation firsthand. It is heartbreaking to witness it. I had mentioned earlier, but it's good to keep
01:38repeating it, that within a matter of weeks, the portal will open on those grant applications.
01:44Under ECAP, which was the first tranche, that first $10 billion that went out for emergency assistance.
01:48That's right. I understand, but I just want to use that as an explanation of how we're going to be
01:54also doing the second tranche, which is the disaster. We, on March 17th, announced it. On March 20th,
02:00funds were moving out and into farmers bank accounts. When will the portal be open for the
02:04disaster assistance? By the end of the month, hopefully in the next week. And how will that
02:07impact states that are using a block grant arrangement with USDA? Well, that's a state-by-state
02:11question, so I'll be happy to follow up with Tyler Harper, your Ag Commissioner, who I know is tracking this very,
02:16very closely and ensure that we fully understand. When do you expect those discussions with the
02:20state to be resolved? Well, we, again, there are 50 states. We're talking to all of them. When we
02:28open that portal, hopefully it moves almost immediately. We've already moved the 280 million
02:33that was outlined in that disaster relief into Texas because it was outlined. It was obviously easier
02:38than the, you know, than the open, the open book on the rest of the states, but it will move very,
02:43very quickly. If you don't see that, then would you please let me know and we'll do everything we
02:47can. Madam Secretary, are you familiar with the Local Foods for Schools program? Yes, sir. So here's a
02:53few quotes from my constituents. This is from Scott Richardson of the Dawson County School District.
02:59Local Foods for Schools program has transformed our ability to bring healthy, fresh, and locally grown
03:04fruits and vegetables to our students. Prior to the LFS, purchasing from local farmers was often
03:09cost prohibitive. Here's a quote from Parrish Akins. They own a family farm. He owns a family farm in
03:16Nashville, Georgia. Mr. Akins said, this program, quote, has allowed our farming operation to capture
03:23some of the profits which in the past would have gone to another member of a supply chain has allowed
03:26us to increase our revenues. Here's Colquitt County School Nutrition Office. Purchasing local foods has
03:32significantly enriched our school community by providing fresher, healthier meal options for
03:36students. Here's Atlanta neighborhood charter school nutrition. Quote, we bought some Georgia
03:40shrimp from a guy who's been in the shrimping industry since he was a teenager in Brunswick.
03:45Crisp County School Nutrition. Through the Local Food for Schools program, we were able to establish
03:49reliable and stable local food sources. This is a program, of course, that helps Georgia farmers sell
03:56food to Georgia schools. Why did you cancel the program? Well, let's talk about Georgia for a second.
04:01The local food... I have 50 seconds left. Well, that's a big question. You've got to give me a little bit
04:06more time. You can take your time, but I want to know why you canceled the program. Well, we canceled
04:09the program. It was a COVID-era program, first of all. Second of all, the money wasn't being spent.
04:14In the current tranche, your state has $2 million of $7 million left in the account. You're asking for
04:20contract extensions because you can't spend the money quickly enough. The food for the FPA, the LFA,
04:26we've got $10 million of $20 million left. So you've got money in the bank. It's not a good use of
04:32taxpayer funds. My constituents believe that it is. Well, I would love to talk to your
04:37constituents. I wonder if they know that the state of Georgia has not moved that money out.
04:41Will you please provide to the committee an economic justification for the outright cancellation
04:45of that program? An economic justification for the outright cancellation of the COVID-era
04:50program that was due to end. Yes, we will do that. Of the local food for schools program that my
04:53constituents enjoy and rely on. Yes, we will be happy to do that, sir. Thank you, Madam Secretary.