GOP senators push for more FEMA funding

A group of GOP senators announced legislation Wednesday to replenish a critical disaster relief fund as members on both sides have sounded alarm over its finances amid back-to-back hurricanes.

The legislation, announced by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), seeks to put $20 billion toward the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund.

“The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is the front line for states, and our constituents, to receive support in the aftermath of natural disasters,” Rubio said in a statement. “While assessments of the full extent of these storms are underway, the DRF cannot be allowed to be depleted.”

“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,” Scott also said. “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.”

Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) have also co-sponsored the bill. 

Congress last month passed a temporary stopgap measure to keep federal funding from lapsing in October and to prevent a government shutdown. Of the four senators backing the measure, Scott is the only senator who did not vote for the funding bill last month.

Negotiators said then that the deal allowed for the agency to use the fund’s fiscal 2025 resources faster for disaster response for the duration of the nearly three-month stopgap, letting FEMA draw from a roughly $20 billion pot starting Oct. 1.

But as the hurricane season has ramped up, FEMA officials have indicated to reporters in recent days that almost half of that money is already gone.

The bill passed last month also notably did not include additional funding for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster loan program, which President Biden said Tuesday had been depleted.

“The Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program, which is a critical lifeline to small businesses, homeowners, and renters affected by disasters, has been exhausted,” he said.

“Speaker Johnson has promised that this and other disaster programs will be replenished when Congress returns, so Americans should continue to apply for these loans. SBA will continue to process applications and will disburse loans as soon as Congress provides the needed funding.”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also said that there’s “no question these devastating back-to-back storms have stressed the SBA funding program.” However, he also said the administration “has the necessary disaster funding right now to address the immediate needs of American people in these hurricane-affected areas.” 

“Congress is tracking this situation closely, and when members return in just a few short weeks, the administration should have an accurate assessment of the actual dollar amount needed and there will be strong bipartisan support to provide the necessary funding.”