Sens. Rick Scott, Marco Rubio & Colleagues Announce Bill to Replenish Disaster Relief Fund

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, following Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton causing catastrophic damage across multiple states, Senator Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues announced legislation to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). The FEMA DRF assists individuals, households, states, and non-federal government entities with recovery following natural disasters, yet is quickly dwindling. Specifically, this bill would appropriate $20 billion to the DRF to help states recover. Senator Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn are cosponsors of the legislation.

In preparation for and response to Hurricane Milton, Senator Scott has been in constant contact with state leaders, mayors, sheriffs and police chiefs, emergency management officials and energy companies in communities throughout the state, and has visited St. Lucie, Volusia, Lake, Pinellas, Sarasota, Hillsborough, Lee, Charlotte and Manatee counties to survey damage and receive briefings from local officials. On Sunday, Senator Scott met with President Joe Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Sunday to receive a briefing on the response to Hurricane Milton and ongoing rescue and recovery missions and discuss communities' needs as they begin their recovery.

Senator Rick Scott said, "I've been on the ground in Florida surveying damage and talking to Floridians for weeks as our state prepared for and now responds to and recovers from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. What's clear is that Florida families and businesses need their federal government to show up where they are and help them get back on their feet. This bill, providing $20 billion for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, will ensure that the agency has what it needs to provide immediate aid to folks in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and other states impacted by disasters while our local communities determine their needs from FEMA, SBA, USDA and other federal agencies. The federal government's response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Unfortunately, I am already hearing from local officials and families in Florida that are frustrated by the fact that these disasters have stretched FEMA's current resources too thin. That is unacceptable. No state is immune from disasters and I hope that none of our colleagues in the Senate will object to the quick passage of this needed funding. Even with this bill, I continue to urge Majority Leader Schumer to bring back the Senate to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants, and I'm glad that, in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done. While Floridians are incredibly resilient and will rebuild stronger than ever, it's going to be an all hands on deck effort at the local, state and federal level to come together and support these communities. I'm going to keep fighting like hell to deliver the federal resources Floridians need to recover."

Senator Marco Rubio said, "Unfortunately, this is a hurricane season no one will soon forget. The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is the front line for states, and our constituents, to receive support in the aftermath of natural disasters. While assessments of the full extent of these storms are underway, the DRF cannot be allowed to be depleted. I am proud to announce my colleagues and I will be introducing a bill to provide additional funding to support communities affected by the recent hurricanes."

Senator Bill Cassidy said, "Americans help Americans. FEMA needs resources to help those impacted by Hurricanes Milton, Helene, and Francine. Related to this, I will continue working to make flood insurance affordable again."

Senator John Cornyn said, "It is alarming that FEMA has spent almost half of its disaster fund, and there are still weeks left in hurricane season. Congress must take action to ensure critical agencies have sufficient resources to help those impacted by natural disasters recover while also maintaining long-term rebuilding projects."

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