Bilirakis and Other Florida Delegation Members Request Clean Supplemental Appropriations Bill To Replenish Disaster Relief Fund in Response to Recent Disasters
Today, Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and fifteen other Florida Delegation Members sent a letter urging House and Senate leadership to support a clean supplemental appropriations bill to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) in order to help those affected by recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Idalia, fully recover. Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday, August 30, damaging homes, businesses, and agricultural lands throughout the state of Florida. Significant damage was experienced by residents in the coastal areas of all three counties that comprise Florida’s 12th Congressional District, including Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. During the past week, Congressman Bilirakis has personally toured flooded areas throughout his district and spoken with those impacted. He has also held multiple conversations with state and federal officials to push for the inclusion of Pasco and Hernando counties in the federal disaster declaration, which would enable those of his constituents who are suffering to receive direct assistance. While damage estimates are still being calculated for the hardest hit areas, impacted residents will undoubtedly be in rebuild and recovery mode for the next several weeks and months. Given the recent spate of natural disasters across the United States, remaining FEMA DRF funds will not be sufficient to support recovery efforts for Hurricane Idalia, the wildfires in Hawaii, and others.
The Members' letter asks funding for these natural disasters not be tied to additional funding for Ukraine or other supplemental requests to ensure assistance is swift and sufficient for Americans affected by these incidents. Joining Rep. Bilirakis on the letter are Florida Reps. Cammack, Dunn, Buchanan, Lee, Webster, Mast, Luna, Donalds, Gaetz, Waltz, Gimenez, Posey, Mills, Salazar, and Bean.
To read the letter in its entirety, click here.