President Obama has unveiled an additional $30 million in federal aid to combat the nation’s worst drought in 25 years. Nearly two-thirds of the contiguous United States has been found to be in moderate to exceptional drought, ravaging fields and driving up the price of basic staples. On Tuesday, President Obama unveiled the new aid and called on Congress to approve a farm bill assisting rural areas.

President Obama: “It is a historic drought, and it’s having a profound impact on farmers and ranchers all across many states. Now, at my direction, the Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary [Tom] Vilsack, has been working with every other agency across the federal government to make sure that we are taking every single possible step to help farmers and ranchers to fight back and recover from this disaster. Obviously, Congress has a role here. Congress needs to pass a farm bill that will not only provide important disaster relief tools, but also make necessary reforms and give farmers the certainty that they deserve.”