In recognition of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has released a video commemorating the moment in the state’s history, while simultaneously pushing his Federal Disaster Responsibility Act.
Sen. Scott announced the bill days after Hurricane Idalia recently thrashed Florida’s Big Bend region. The legislation seeks to make sure “the federal government is a reliable partner to those fighting to recover from natural disasters.”
Moreover, the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act also includes Sen. Scott’s Block Grant Assistance Act, which would provide support to Florida’s ranchers and growers after hurricane-related disasters.
Alongside releasing a video recognizing Hurricane Ian’s one-year anniversary (shown below), Sen. Scott provided a written statement as well.
“The devastation caused in Florida by Hurricane Ian will never be forgotten. One year later, while the many scars of this storm remain, the resilience of hardworking Floridians is on full display I’ve talked to so many Floridians who are happy to roll up their sleeves in this recovery fight, but they shouldn’t be in that fight alone. Unfortunately for Florida farmers, that is exactly what’s happened. For a year, we’ve been fighting to get block grants approved for Florida’s farmers,” stated Scott.
He would go on to mention, “While we got it done in the House, Democrats in the Senate have blocked this bill at every turn … My bill ensures that FEMA is fully funded and that the federal government can be a reliable partner that will show up not just for Floridians, but all Americans fighting to recover from disasters. It makes no sense that Democrats would block this urgently needed aid. I know I speak for families in my state and all across our country when I say that we are SICK AND TIRED of seeing disaster aid used as some political pawn. I won’t stop fighting to get my Federal Disaster Responsibility Act passed so our families and farmers get the disaster relief they need and deserve.”
The Federal Disaster Responsibility Act would grant $16.5 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to replenish its Disaster Relief Fund, as well as provide block grants to Florida’s citrus growers affected by natural disasters.
