Hurricane season continues to wreak havoc in Florida and other states. Floridians are currently reeling from Hurricane Helene while preparing for Hurricane Milton to impact. To fund relief efforts, Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D) has introduced a bill that would send $8 billion to the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Rep. Moskowitz previously served as the Florida Division of Emergency Management. From this experience, he understands "that the Small Business Administration is a lifeline for so many communities after a disaster" as he mentioned in a statement.
"Congress should have proactively funded the SBA and FEMA before going on a months-long recess during hurricane season," Rep. Moskowitz commented, expressing that "the devastation we're seeing across the Southeast, especially in North Carolina and Florida, requires immediate congressional action."
"My bill to fund the SBA will help families and workers impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton survive until their communities recover."
I’ve just introduced an $8 billion bill to support the @SBAgov’s disaster loan fund, which is almost depleted. As a former emergency manager, I know the SBA is a lifeline for communities, and this bill will help families & workers recover from Hurricanes Milton and Helene. pic.twitter.com/IrKR9Dey6I
— Congressman Jared Moskowitz (@RepMoskowitz) October 8, 2024
The Florida Democrat announced on X that he had introduced the bill, noting that the SBA disaster loan fund "is almost depleted." Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, the SBA’s Disaster Loan Fund has received more than 3,000 applications every day. The fund only has $1.6 billion remaining, and this is projected to last a few weeks unless Congress acts on the issue.
During an interview on CNN, he further discussed the negative impact that Hurricane Milton could have on Florida, mentioning that the hurricane would bring storm surges that would lead to disastrous results.
"This is not happening in a vacuum. There are five other states that have emergencies going on from the Hurricane: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and obviously the cleanup that's still going on in Florida," he warned.
Hurricane Milton is officially a Category 5 storm, one of the most intense storms on record in the Gulf of Mexico.
It’s critical for Floridians to track updates from @FLSERT and follow evacuation orders from their local emergency managers. pic.twitter.com/mYik3ObwWM
— Congressman Jared Moskowitz (@RepMoskowitz) October 7, 2024
"There is going to be a resource issue. There is absolutely going to be a resource issue. We saw when we had Harvey, Irma, and Maria, we had a resource issue to respond, and we're gonna see that same resource issue," Rep. Moskowitz commented.
For him however the greatest worry at the moment is "the loss of life."
