Florida Democrat demands new FEMA funding: “Sounding the alarm for months”

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on Florida, U.S. Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz has revisited his call for immediate action to bolster Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resources.

“As the only former emergency management director in Congress, I have been sounding the alarm for months that this would be a problem if we just left for recess without properly funding FEMA during the height of hurricane season,” Moskowitz, representative from Florida, said in a recent release.

Moskowitz, who served as Florida’s director of emergency management from 2019 to 2021 and later as Broward County commissioner before his election to Congress, brings a unique perspective to the ongoing debate over disaster funding. He further emphasized his readiness to act: “I stand ready to return to Washington to immediately ensure FEMA has the resources to help the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.”

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Thursday night, pummeling Florida’s Big Bend region with winds of up to 140 mph and delivering catastrophic flooding and storm surge. The storm’s impact extends beyond Florida, affecting multiple states.

The timing of Helene’s landfall has thrown the issue of FEMA funding into sharp relief. Just one day before the hurricane struck, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to extend FEMA funding through December 20. But the agency still grapples with a multibillion-dollar deficit, even after implementing new spending restrictions last month.

Moskowitz praised President Joe Biden’s immediate response to the crisis, stating, “Thank you to President Biden for sending all available resources to the impacted states.” He was also quick to criticize Congress over its failure to act sooner. “Congress should have been proactive on this issue,” Moskowitz said, highlighting the ongoing debate over disaster preparedness and funding allocation.

The congressman’s statement reflects a growing frustration with the political gridlock that often surrounds disaster relief efforts. “Congress must show that it can still deliver for the American people in their hour of greatest need,” Moskowitz added.

During his tenure as Florida’s emergency management director, Moskowitz oversaw the state’s response to various crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm that devastated portions of his state in 2018.

Notable among the dissenting voices over disaster relief funding is U.S. Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, who voted against the recent stopgap measure to fund the government and provide additional disaster assistance. Gaetz’s vote, cast just a day before Hurricane Helene made landfall in his home state, has drawn criticism and raised questions about the priorities of lawmakers in disaster-prone regions.

This wasn’t the first time Gaetz has voted against a continuing resolution that included disaster relief funding. In 2022, just days after Hurricane Ian ravaged Florida, the GOP lawmaker was among several Republicans to vote against a stopgap measure that would continue funding the government and provide billions of dollars in extra disaster assistance.

Despite his most recent vote, Gaetz promised Floridians that they would still have support for Helene damage, according to a report by ABC 3.

Newsweek contacted Moskowitz and Gaetz’s office via email on Monday for comment.

Moskowitz’s statement concluded with a final call to action: “So, let’s get back to work and pass a bipartisan, long-term solution with no poison pills or politicking involved.”