Central Louisiana News

WASHINGTON – In response to the 2023 drought conditions in Louisiana, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., U.S. Representative Clay Higgins, and members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation have come forward to advocate for support towards Governor Jeff Landry's disaster declaration. The delegation is urging the Small Business Administration (SBA) to approve Louisiana's request and extend the deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) filing through the end of the crawfish season.

The Louisiana Congressional Delegation highlighted the significant impact of the drought on various industries in the state, particularly on crawfish producers and downstream businesses. They emphasized the importance of securing financial assistance for businesses affected by the drought, as many of them are not eligible for agriculture relief programs.

According to the delegation, Louisiana's commercial supply of crawfish plays a crucial role in the state's economy, with an estimated $300 million impact. They also pointed out the substantial financial losses faced by the entire supply chain due to deficits in crawfish production, amounting to an estimated $140 million in losses.

The lawmakers stressed the need for the SBA to provide essential tools and assistance to non-agricultural businesses in Louisiana to navigate the application process for relief programs like EIDL. Additionally, they called for an extension of the EIDL filing deadline through the end of the crawfish season to allow affected businesses ample time to assess their losses accurately.

The joint efforts of Cassidy, Higgins, and the Louisiana Congressional Delegation in advocating for disaster relief for crawfish-related businesses demonstrate their commitment to supporting the state's economy during challenging times.