Associated Press
Floridians will need about $33 billion in emergency aid from the federal government as the state recovers from the devastation left by Hurricane Ian, the state’s Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said Wednesday.
Rubio said the federal government has an important role to play in Florida’s recovery. He said the $33 billion is only an initial assessment of what will be needed and cautioned that the tally is likely to grow.
“I plan to make sure our state receives the emergency relief it needs to fully rebuild,” Rubio said in a statement.
The Army Corps of Engineers needs more than $12 billion to help repair shorelines, dredge navigation channels and increase coastal resilience, Rubio said. The next largest share of funding, $10 billion, would go to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which helps families with temporary housing, cleanup and financial assistance to meet critical needs such as food, water and prescriptions.
Rubio said nearly $3 billion is needed for the Department of Agriculture to cover costs from loss of crops and trees.
Florida’s lawmakers from both parties are keen on assuring voters going into the mid-term elections next month that they are fighting for the state when it comes to federal disaster aid. Rubio is running for a third term against Democratic Rep. Val Demings, who is emphasizing her role as chairwoman of a House panel that oversees FEMA’s work.
Congress faces a mid-December deadline to fund the government, giving lawmakers a prime opportunity to include disaster aid before the end of the year. But Rubio has warned that aid for Florida should be kept separate.
“We are capable in this country, in the Congress, of voting for disaster relief after key events like this without using it as a vehicle or a mechanism for people to load it up with stuff that’s unrelated to the storm,” Rubio said recently on CNN.
12 comments
Yrral
October 13, 2022 at 7:05 am
Beggar’s like Rubio cannot be choosy,when you have no power to dictate policy , Democrats in control of everything,he can find money for Ukraine,when he was not looking out for Florida,vote for Rubio is a lost cause,for people that lost everything, another storm will impact Florida, before the election,so wait and get a national disaster bill for all American,not just Florida
Tom
October 13, 2022 at 7:36 am
Rubio is the best legislator in Congress, Rubio has the craftsmanship and skill unlike any other to ensure what is needed in recovery.
Yrral is a disrespectful partisan hack, who is disrespectful and clueless.
Joe Corsin
October 13, 2022 at 9:21 am
AHHH HAHAHA AHHHH 👍
Sucker
October 13, 2022 at 4:06 pm
Stop sucking on penis so
Much, you degenerate Joey corsin.
Impeach Biden
October 13, 2022 at 4:16 pm
Agreed! He never shows up to vote, and just tweets out Bible verses everyday. This is what effective leaders should do.
Deuteronomy 23:1
marylou
October 13, 2022 at 5:08 pm
Rubio wants to cut Social Security and raise the age for Medicare.
Republicans admit that they will hold the programs hostage at next year’s debt-limit deadline to extract concessions from Democrats. Retirees paid into these programs for decades. So if they want to keep their earned benefits they need to VOTE OUT REPUBLICANS!
PeterH
October 13, 2022 at 9:30 am
WELCOME TO THE REPUBLICAN GRIFTER STATE OF FLORIDA
This is beginning to sound like the immediacy of COVID handouts to private businesses that resulted in “Republican Free Stuff Fraud”……
The hurricane hit less than two weeks ago ….. there is PLENTY OF TIME to assess need….get remediation proposals, and secure bank loans.
All funds should NOT BE A $33 billion dollar handout but based on Federal Treasury guaranteed low interest loans to the State’s selected banks.
The State of Florida should have multiple bids from qualified engineers before the bank loans get approved.
Yrral
October 13, 2022 at 6:10 pm
Rubio,do not control any committee that dole out money, Pelosi control the show,spread the dough,these elderly people should get priority
Tom
October 13, 2022 at 6:50 pm
You are clueless ural mountain.
Yrral
October 14, 2022 at 6:28 am
Little Marco Polo
Tom
October 14, 2022 at 8:32 am
Bring it on pal!
I am the FP legend.
Enjoy!
Tom
October 14, 2022 at 8:32 am
Bring it on pal!
I am the FP legend.
Enjoy!
Comments are closed.