Ernst Surveys Flood Damage in Western Iowa With Vice President Pence, Gov. Reynolds, Sen. Grassley

PACIFIC JUNCTION, Iowa, April 12 -- The office of Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release:

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- Ernst met directly with the president yesterday at the White House on disaster aid for Iowa

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Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) surveyed flood damage in Western Iowa with the Vice President of the United States, Mike Pence, Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA), and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA). The group also visited Lincoln's Ridgeview Farms in Pacific Junction, which was devastated by the recent flooding.

Yesterday, Senator Ernst met directly with President Trump at the White House to discuss a way forward to get timely and badly needed aid to Iowa communities. The meeting came on the heels of Senate Democrats voting down a disaster aid package that would have provided support to Iowans in need.

Background:

In the wake of the flooding, Senator Ernst has worked tirelessly to provide aid to Iowans in need. Just yesterday, she helped introduce legislation to provide tax relief to Iowans impacted by the floods. The Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2019 would allow individuals in areas of Iowa and Nebraska that have been declared a major disaster by the president to be eligible for a number of tax benefits.

She is also working with Senator Grassley on an amendment that will extend federal relief from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (UDSA) to cover Iowa farmers who have lost stored grain as a result of the disastrous flooding.

This coming week, Senator Ernst will be hosting a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee field hearing in Southwest Iowa. The hearing will focus on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' management of the Missouri River. Witnesses will include officials from the Army Corps and local leaders and stakeholders from Fremont County, among others.

For Iowans impacted by floods, there are many resources available. For a list highlighting resources for Iowa families, businesses, and farmers, as well as information about contacting Senator Ernst's office for assistance, click here (https://bit.ly/2IjkOjT).