News

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) led a bipartisan group of Senators in a letter urging congressional leaders to promptly pass disaster supplemental funding legislation to help communities recover in the aftermath of recent natural disasters. Hurricane Michael hit Florida’s panhandle as a major hurricane on October 10, 2018, causing great destruction and triggered the need for federal resources.
 
Rubio was joined by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Doug Jones (D-AL), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tim Scott (R-SC), David Perdue (R-GA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
 
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Rubio has led efforts to provide much needed resources. A timeline of Rubio’s actions related to Hurricane Michael can be found here.
 
The full text of the letter is below.
 
Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy:
 
We write to urge prompt consideration of a bipartisan and bicameral disaster supplemental appropriations measure to infuse communities across the nation with much needed resources in the aftermath of recent natural disasters. As you are well aware, last year produced catastrophic hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that have left our communities in need of federal assistance to continue their recovery efforts. We are deeply concerned these state and local governments will not have the necessary resources needed to address critical issues, including defense capabilities, agriculture, infrastructure and economic development that are crucial to our constituents and businesses in hard hit areas.  
 
Both sides of the Capitol must work together with the administration to come to a solution that addresses the needs of our home states, which have been forced to shoulder the burden of recovery efforts without the necessary assets. Unfortunately, Congress has delayed providing this aid for too long while our communities face the consequences of our inaction.
 
Congress has a responsibility to appropriate disaster funding and assist our states which are facing daily challenges trying to rebuild and restore. As such, we insist you bring a disaster supplemental bill to the floor for consideration at the earliest opportunity to ensure that the federal government fulfills its responsibility.   
 
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter, and we look forward to continuing our work.
 
Sincerely,