Kamala Harris’ campaign publicly named 99 Republicans who voted against funding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) two weeks ago.
The vote was part of a $20 billion package on September 25. The bill passed both the House and Senate, but 82 representatives and 18 senators voted against the bill, all Republicans.
These included lawmakers from some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene, like Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.
On October 7, Kamala Harris’ campaign account on two weeks.”
The post received over 2 million views and a mixed response from commenters. The RNC was contacted by email outside of business hours for comment.
Critics have a variety of reasons for opposing FEMA funding, including a belief that the money is mismanaged.
One of the lawmakers who voted against the bill was Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Scott Perry.
As part of his September 5 opening remarks to the subcommittee he chairs, Rep. Perry said FEMA spends taxpayer dollars to “amplify climate science messages to increase public demand for building codes and standards,” which he believes should be the responsibility of individuals. States.
Rep. Perry was contacted by email outside of business hours for comment.
Mario Tama/Getty images
Some Republican lawmakers, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, have also accused FEMA of helping migrants instead of helping U.S. citizens. FEMA disputed this claim, saying “no money is diverted from disaster response needs.”
FEMA coordinated a force of nearly 7,000 federal workers to provide meals, water, generators, tarps and other supplies and equipment on the ground in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia , Tennessee, Florida and Georgia, which were declared disaster areas as a result. the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene on September 24.
Florida is currently preparing for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall in Florida today.
FEMA also had to prepare for a wave of misinformation about the organization. A page on its website called Rumor Response verifies information released about the organization’s work.
According to its website, “FEMA provides assistance to survivors without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.
Florida Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who voted against the bill, said News week: “I have been traveling around my constituency over the past few days and have witnessed the devastation my constituents have endured in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
“It is inconceivable that before these residents have even begun to rebuild, we will have to prepare for another potentially catastrophic hurricane. I am very concerned for my district and all Floridians as we prepare for a very dangerous storm. I encourage my constituents to heed the advice of local emergency professionals and stay as safe as possible over the coming days. This is a time when we must come together to support each other.
“I support returning to Washington as soon as possible to vote on a standalone bill ensuring that FEMA and NFIP are funded at the levels needed to respond to Milton and future disasters without being tied together, as CR was, to disastrous policies and unnecessary spending.
“At this time, I am working with federal, state and local officials to determine the specific amounts that should be included as well as programmatic language that will provide greater flexibility to reimburse activities that have enabled the state and local governments to respond to these consecutive emergencies.
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