Congressman John Joyce, M.D. said on May 26 that United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Adams, Franklin, Cumberland, and Perry Counties in Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District following the severe freeze that impacted the region in April.
“Pennsylvania’s fruit growers provide tremendous support for our rural communities and agricultural economy. After experiencing devastating crop losses from April’s historic freeze, we owe it to them to provide that same level of support,” said Congressman Joyce. “This essential assistance will ensure that impacted producers have access to critical emergency resources to protect the future of their operations. As they navigate these unprecedented challenges, I am grateful to Secretary Rollins for her immediate response to our request. This is a step in the right direction for our growers, and I will continue to support these hardworking farming families who feed our communities and strengthen our economy.”
The USDA Secretarial Disaster Declaration allows affected fruit growers in the designated counties to apply for emergency assistance programs through the Farm Service Agency, including emergency loans and other recovery resources.
Last week, Joyce led a bipartisan letter urging USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to swiftly issue the disaster declaration. The effort was joined by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rob Bresnahan (PA-08), Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15), Mike Kelly (PA-16), and Chris Deluzio (PA-17).
John Joyce is currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing Pennsylvania’s 13th district; he replaced Bill Shuster in 2019, according to the U.S. Congress Biographical Directory. Joyce was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1957 and lives in Hollidaysburg.
