USDA Secretary Perdue Says He's Disappointed Federal Disaster Relief Bill Failed

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Destroyed cotton cop in southwest Georgia after Hurricane Michael hit the state in the fall of 2018.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said he was extremely disappointed a disaster relief bill failed to clear the U.S. Senate earlier this week.

Much of the $13.45 billion relief package was set to help farmers impacted by Hurricane Michael.

Speaking in Newnan Friday, Perdue said he's just as frustrated as those affected.

"It's a hollow feeling for the president to come down here and say 'We're gonna help you' and go back and have to depend on Republicans and Democrats to get together to pass this,” Perdue said as he toured a USDA dog training facility.

He said the urgency needs to pick up with planting season around the corner.

“Time is of the essence,” Perdue said. “I would’ve hoped it’d been done by now. We had a framework of how to do this. USDA knows how to do this.”