Frustration Grows as National Disaster Relief Legislation Remains Stagnant

Florida Senator Rick Scott continues targeting President Joe Biden’s administration as he warns hurricane preparedness will be insufficient if action is not taken. 

President Biden’s latest communiqué on extreme weather phenomena referenced climate change as a cause for the increase in frequency and severity of natural disasters. Biden also stated his administration had dispatched FEMA agents to the most susceptible areas of the country. 

Sen. Scott released his own statement in reply, where he criticized Biden for harnessing natural disasters to push a progressive narrative while failing to implement impactful measures. 

“Statements from this president pushing a radical climate agenda while refusing to commit to action are cheap and unacceptable,” stated Scott. 

 

Scott underscored Biden’s alleged manipulation of the dwindling federal Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) as a bargaining chip when negotiating with conservative officials from disaster-prone states. 

“We are in the middle of hurricane season,” reminded Scott, “there's no logic behind tying disaster aid to anything else and doing so only causes inexcusable delays that hurt Floridians and every other American who may face a disaster.”

Senators Rubio and Scott had previously introduced the Disaster Relief Fund Replenishment Act to rescue the nearly extinguished DRF.

The DRF Replenishment Act has yet to be passed amidst growing concerns of the potential devastating consequences of possible hurricanes and tropical storms. 

“Enough is enough. It's time to pass the Disaster Relief Fund Replenishment Act and stop playing games with disaster aid,” concluded Scott.

Scott, along with Senator Marco Rubio, has also directly and publicly communicated with FEMA.

In their open letter, they require FEMA to reveal whether they have sufficient funds to cover multiple disasters during hurricane season and what fund requests will be prioritized given insufficient fund availability to meet all requests.