Congress approved $20 billion for FEMA's disaster relief fund as Hurricane Helene was heading toward Florida.

As Hurricane Helene careened toward Florida’s Panhandle, numerous Republicans voted against extending funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Last week, Congress approved $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund as part of a stopgap spending bill to fund the government through December 20. But the measure left out billions of dollars in requested supplemental disaster funding.

The Senate approved the measure by a 78-18 vote on September 25 after it passed the House in a 341-82 vote. Republicans supplied the no votes in both chambers.

Some of the Republicans who voted against the bill represent states that have been hard hit by Helene, including Florida Representative Matt Gaetz.

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  • SlippiHUD@lemmy.worldEnglish
    63·
    1 month ago

    Don’t worry. Fema will run out of money before the end of hurricane season and Christian Nationalist Mike Johnson has refused to hold any votes giving it additional funding until after the election.

    Democrats need to be pushing this out into the public consciousness hard, so when Fema does run out of money and people in dire need can’t get help, they know who to blame.

    • Mirshe@lemmy.world
      22·
      1 month ago

      Yup, just air Mike Johnson saying “I won’t hold votes on this until the election is over”. The ad copy writes itself: Republicans don’t care how many of you or your loved ones die.