Sw Louisiana News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) spearheaded a letter from the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to U.S. Small Business Administrator, Isabel Guzman, advocating for Governor Jeff Landry’s disaster declaration due to the 2023 drought conditions. The delegation is urging the Small Business Administration (SBA) to greenlight Louisiana’s request and extend the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) filing deadline through the end of the crawfish season to provide critical financial aid to Louisiana businesses.

In the letter, the Louisiana Congressional Delegation outlined the hardships faced by various industries in the state, stating, "Many industries throughout Louisiana suffered immensely due to drought, as well as a prolonged saltwater intrusion, which negatively impacted crawfish producers as well as downstream businesses. Crawfish processors, wholesalers, boilers, and other related enterprises are not eligible for agriculture relief programs, but their livelihoods are dependent on a robust crawfish crop. In response, we request a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)."

Highlighting the significant economic impact of the crawfish industry, the delegation emphasized, "According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana’s commercial supply of crawfish has an estimated $300 million impact on the state’s economy. It is important to note that the entire supply chain has seen and will continue to see major financial losses this season because of severe deficits in crawfish production, with Louisiana State University’s AgCenter estimating losses in production to be $140 million."

The delegation's efforts aim to secure vital support for Louisiana businesses affected by the challenging conditions, underscoring the importance of timely assistance to safeguard the state's economy.