Central Florida Members of Congress seek to ensure federal support to state is swift and sufficient

WASHINGTON - Today, Central Florida Representatives Darren Soto, Val Demings, and Stephanie Murphy joined House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), and House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Carter on an official visit to Jacksonville, Florida to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Irma. The three central Florida representatives, along with other members of the Florida congressional delegation, had invited senior House leaders to the state in order to highlight the need for swift federal support to aid recovery and rebuilding efforts.

"The Florida delegation is united in helping all affected Floridians recover from Hurricane Irma. I was proud to join my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to learn how to better prepare our state from future natural disasters. Today's visit was further evidence that we must continue to support the National Flood Insurance Program to help Floridians reduce the impact of flooding on our coasts. We also saw that Jacksonville, like Central Florida, is going to need fortification of their electrical infrastructure. And we agreed that a long-term assessment of what areas should be re-developed and strengthened is necessary to brace future storms," said Soto.

"My heart breaks seeing the damage Hurricane Irma has left across Florida and in my hometown of Jacksonville. Recovery from a storm this great must be a team effort. It is encouraging to see all Floridians uniting as one to begin that huge task. It's now time for Congress to come together the same way and provide the financial assistance necessary to rebuild from the damage across Florida and everywhere Irma wreaked havoc. I thank Representatives Lawson and Rutherford for hosting the delegation, and Speaker Ryan for joining us on the ground and seeing firsthand the dire need for assistance. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to see this effort through," said Demings.

"Florida's leaders and people stand united in the wake of Hurricane Irma. Throughout the state, there is serious damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. Congress has already appropriated $15 billion to support recovery efforts, and my colleagues and I want to ensure this money gets into the hands of those who need it as soon as possible. In addition, we will be pushing for Congress to enact new legislation to provide additional funding. As part of that effort, I will work with leaders in Orange and Seminole County to determine their exact needs and priorities," said Murphy.

The congressional delegation received a briefing from FEMA and local officials at the Duval County Emergency Operations Center and later took a Windshield Tour of the Jacksonville and St. John's River flooding area. Jacksonville is also home to United States Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, which is responsible for all Coast Guard missions within its area of responsibility (AOR) stretching from King's Bay, Ga. to Port Malabar, Fla.

In addition to Murphy, Demings and Soto, the CODEL was also attended by Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Reps. Neal Dunn, Ted Yoho, John Rutherford, Al Lawson, Ron DeSantis and Bill Posey.

Read this original document at: https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-soto-demings-and-murphy-assess-hurricane-damage-florida-speaker-paul-ryan