After the devastation caused by the wildfires in Maui and Hurricane Idalia that hit Florida’s Big Bend, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and his Floridian colleagues are once again calling for the immediate passage of the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act, saying it should be quickly moved through the Legislative Branch “TODAY.”
On Labor Day weekend, Sen. Scott sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and even joined President Joe Biden in Suwanee County to meet with those affected by Hurricane Idalia.
He urged the President to pass the legislation. So far, his efforts have been in vain.
“When disaster strikes, families can’t be left wondering whether the federal government is going to show up or if they’ll be strung along while Washington uses them as a bargaining chip in a massive spending bill. One Democrat has even come out and proactively said that she would block this desperately needed disaster aid. That’s the type of gross politics being played in Washington and Floridians are sick and tired of it,” stated Sen. Scott.
He would go on to mention that Congress “needs to do its job.”
“I’ve been saying it for months, and I just said it to President Biden on Saturday and Chuck Schumer yesterday: We can’t let Washington play games with disaster relief funds or make helping Americans contingent on helping foreign causes. Funding for Ukraine should NEVER be paired with disaster relief for American families. Congress has passed all of the provisions in this bill before, and it needs to do its job and get that done again. Let’s put American families first and immediately pass the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act,” the Florida senator concluded.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Scott in introducing the bill to the upper chamber. He went as far as to say that Congress should “hold the [Biden] administration accountable.”
“One of the most basic functions of the U.S. Government is, and should continue to be, to help Americans when disasters hit. Sadly, the Biden Administration intentionally withheld a budget request for the Disaster Relief Fund for months after acknowledging a funding shortfall to leverage it in exchange for unrelated spending. Congress must hold the administration accountable for this cynical conduct that has jeopardized disaster response, and must pass this straightforward bill as soon as possible,” said Sen. Rubio.
Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives. She stated that the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act will “help get Floridians back on their feet.”
The bill will provide at least $16.5 billion towards the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF).
