Washington, D.C. (WGXA) — Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff is calling for swift action in Congress to address the mental health needs of the state’s farmers, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. The senator is urging his colleagues to pass the Farmers First Act, which would expand mental health resources for agricultural workers in Georgia.
Parts of South and East Georgia are still recovering from the hurricane, which caused significant damage to the state’s agricultural industry. “A million and a half acres of timberland were destroyed,” Ossoff told WGXA. “Our fall crops, specialty crops, fruits and vegetables, pecans, poultry, beef cows, cotton, tobacco… Georgia agriculture took a heavy hit.”
Expanding Mental Health Resources for Farmers
Originally introduced last year by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), the Farmers First Act aims to provide essential mental health support for farmers, who often face significant emotional and psychological stress due to natural disasters, economic challenges, and the demands of farm life. The legislation would also reauthorize the National Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, ensuring additional funding through 2028 to help farmers cope with mental health challenges.
Ossoff has expressed a sense of urgency, warning that failure to act could result in irreversible damage. “Agriculture is Georgia’s number one industry,” he said. “If these farms fail, these rural communities are at risk of collapse.”
A Bipartisan Approach
The Farmers First Act has received support from lawmakers across the political spectrum, a hallmark of Ossoff’s approach to legislating. According to a study by the Polarization Research Lab, Ossoff is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, collaborating with colleagues from both parties more than 25% of the time between 2022 and 2024.
“We’ve got to remember that we’re all Americans,” Ossoff said. “We’re Americans before we’re Democrats and Republicans. Georgia farmers who need help because of this storm need Congress to unite and pass this disaster relief package by the end of the year.”
The Need for Immediate Action
Ossoff emphasized that the ongoing challenges facing Georgia’s farming community require immediate and long-term solutions. The Farmers First Act would help ensure that farmers in Georgia and across the country receive the mental health support they need to recover from the emotional toll of natural disasters, economic hardship, and the inherent stress of agricultural life.
With the clock ticking toward the end of the year, Ossoff is calling on Congress to act swiftly and pass the Farmers First Act before the close of the legislative session.
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