NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT from Sen. Patrick Leahy and Sen. Jim Jeffords:  Senate Panel Clears $4.5 M. Amendment To Aid Storm-Hit N.E. Maple Growers

March 17, 1998

WASHINGTON (March 17) -- The Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday approved an amendment offered by Sen. Patrick Leahy to extend $4.5 million in federal aid to maple producers in Vermont and other Northeast states whose trees and equipment were damaged by the January ice storm.

Leahy, a senior member of the committee, offered the amendment during Appropriations Committee votes Tuesday on a supplemental appropriations bill that includes disaster aid for the Northeast, Florida and California. The amendment was co-drafted and supported by Sen. Jim Jeffords. The Vermont senators together had visited storm-stricken farmers in the aftermath of the ice storm.

The funds would go to individual maple producers to share the cost of replacing taps and tubing equipment.

"Without this direct help, many of the needs of maple producers would have fallen through the cracks of the disaster aid package," Leahy said.

"This bill will help keep the sap flowing for our maple producers. I look forward to further improving this bill when it reaches the Senate floor," said Jeffords.

The disaster aid package also includes $3 - 4 million for tree replacement, debris removal and damage assessments, and another $1 million for trail repair work in the Green Mountain National Forest.

The bill goes next week to the Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate.