CFO Jimmy Patronis to Congress: Stop Putting Politics Over Hurricane Michael Victims

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, April 25 -- The Florida Department of Financial Services issued the following news release:

At a press conference today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis and other elected officials urged Congress to step up and take immediate action on the passage of a Hurricane Michael relief bill to aid in recovery efforts for the Florida Panhandle.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, "It has been over six months since Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 5 hurricane and it's unacceptable that the devastated areas still don't have congressional relief dollars. It is obvious that these communities are stuck in the middle of political games. I will not stand down until Congress takes action to pass a relief bill for recovery efforts. Families and businesses need it.

"I want to thank Gov. DeSantis for his steadfast commitment to Hurricane Michael recovery. I appreciate his dedication and leadership since his very first day in office on this critical issue which impacts so many families across Northwest Florida."

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, "We will not let Hurricane Michael be the forgotten storm, and I stand with leaders across Florida to urge Congress to allocate the funding necessary to ensure areas of the Panhandle ravaged by this Category 5 storm can rebuild."

Commissioner of Agriculture Nicole "Nikki" Fried said, "It cannot be said more clearly or urgently -- the time for further delay on Hurricane Michael relief is over. Floridians and our fellow Americans are struggling. Congress must pass a strong supplemental disaster relief package immediately upon their return to Washington. Every moment the people of Florida and our lands go without federal assistance, the threat of wildfires, future storms, and economic devastation grows."

CFO Patronis was also joined by the legislative delegation of the counties impacted by Hurricane Michael and Florida Panhandle families:

State Senator George Gainer (Bay, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Walton, Washington)

State Senator Bill Montford (Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla)

State Representative Loranne Ausley (Parts of Leon and Jefferson counties)

State Representative Brad Drake (Holmes, Jackson, Walton, Washington and part of Bay counties)

State Representative Jay Trumbull (Parts of Bay and Gulf counties)

View video from the press conference on the Florida Channel here (https://thefloridachannel.org/videos/4-25-19-press-conference-on-hurricane-michael-recovery/).

About CFO Jimmy Patronis

Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida's Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida's firefighters, and ensure the state's finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).