On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) led a bipartisan contingent of Florida lawmakers in introducing legislation that would authorize $3.5 billion in block grants to be made to the state for experiencing revenue losses due to freezes and cold weather conditions.
The Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act of 2026, H.R. 9094, is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) and has 22 original cosponsors, including lead cosponsor Rep. Cammack.
“Food security is national security. Right now, Florida’s farmers need us to deliver,” Rep. Cammack said. “As the only Floridian on the House Agriculture Committee, I’ve seen up close what this [January] freeze did to our growers. Entire seasons gone. Families who don’t know if they can plant again.”
H.R. 9094 would provide $3.5 billion in emergency supplemental funding to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deliver aid through state-administered block grants.
The funds could be used to compensate producers for losses of revenue, quality, and production caused by freeze and cold weather events, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Cammack, and to cover prevented planting and damage to trees, bushes, and vines, including compensation for multi-year crop losses.
The legislation also would direct assistance to counties that received USDA freeze disaster designations issued on March 4, and would require the state to request assistance funding through USDA, the summary says.
“This bill puts Florida in charge of its own recovery instead of waiting on Washington,” said Rep. Cammack, who added that the state experienced statewide sub-freezing temperatures for multiple nights during the winter growing season, causing losses that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates total more than $3.2 billion.
Among the members who joined Rep. Cammack in cosponsoring H.R. 9094 were U.S. Reps. Laurel Lee (R-FL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Darren Soto (D-FL). U.S. Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ashley Moody (R-FL) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
Supporting organizations include the Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Citrus Mutual, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Florida Strawberry Growers Association, the Florida Sugar Cane League, and the Florida Tomato Exchange.