News

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today urged the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to approve Florida Governor Rick Scott’s submitted Action Plan, which proposes how the state will use funds awarded from Congress through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) for hurricane victims in Florida.
 
Rubio previously urged HUD to not penalize hurricane victims for applying for Small Business Administration disaster loans, and introduced legislation to protect disaster victims from this punitive measure.
 
The full text of the letter is below:
 
Dear Secretary Carson:
 
Last week, Governor Rick Scott submitted Florida’s Action Plan, which seeks to utilize funding awarded by Congress through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR). It is my understanding that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has 45 days from receipt of request to provide feedback or approve this plan.
 
As you know, many of Florida’s families and businesses are still suffering from the impact of Hurricane Irma, as well as those impacted by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico who are now on the mainland. Thankfully, Congress appropriated funding for the areas affected by the 2017 hurricanes to allow for this needed relief. The CDBG-DR funding allows for the various states to determine the best ways to use the monies by targeting where and how it is needed the most. As such, it is vital that the federal government make this funding available as soon as possible.
 
I respectfully ask that you thoroughly review and approve the Governor’s Action Plan to allow Floridians to access much-needed federal disaster assistance that will help businesses, families, and communities recover and prepare for the 2018 hurricane season.
 
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 
 
Sincerely,