Rep. Axne Urges Congressional Leadership to Immediately Act on Disaster Funding

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Rep. Cynthia Axne, D-Iowa, issued the following news release:

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- Axne expresses disappointment in the Senate for failing to pass a disaster bill, urges Congress to act immediately

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Today, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) urged House and Senate leadership to immediately pass a disaster relief bill that fully funds recovery programs for all affected areas, including Iowa. In a letter sent to Senate Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Axne expressed disappointment in the Senate for failing to pass a disaster supplemental funding bill and called on both chambers to immediately pass a bill to ensure Iowa communities receive the federal assistance they need to rebuild and recover. The full text of the letter is available here (https://www.scribd.com/document/405079077/040519-Letter-to-Leadership-on-Disaster-Funding) and below.

On January 16, the House voted on an emergency disaster supplemental funding bill. Earlier this week, the Senate failed to move forward a $13 billion disaster aid bill to help communities affected by hurricanes, wildfires and devastating floods. Congresswoman Axne is working to ensure Iowa receives immediate disaster relief.

"We must not turn our backs on our communities when they are recovering from the devastating damage of natural disasters. That's not who we are as Iowans, and that's not who we are as Americans," wrote Rep. Axne.

"All of us were elected to bring the voices and needs of our local communities to Washington. When our governors, our local officials and our emergency management teams tell us what they need to rebuild and recover, we must act. Now is not the time for political games," Axne added.

On March 22, Rep. Axne urged President Trump to support Governor Kim Reynolds' request for a major disaster declaration. On March 23, President Trump issued a disaster declaration, ensuring the full availability of federal resources to support Iowa's efforts to guarantee public safety and rapid recovery.

On March 26, Rep. Axne requested House and Senate appropriators increase funding for federal disaster aid to ensure that programs, which are vital to rebuilding Iowa communities, do not lapse or expire. Given the ongoing effects of climate change and severe weather that is affecting communities in Iowa and across the country, Rep. Axne urged House and Senate appropriators to provide sufficient funding to ensure Iowa's rural communities receive the aid they need.

On March 28, Rep. Axne invited the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to join her on April 6th to tour of the flood damage in Southwest Iowa. As the Secretaries of two vital agencies that handle disaster recovery, Rep. Axne believes it is critical for them to survey the damage in order to fully understand the scope of federal assistance needed to rebuild these rural communities.

On March 29, Rep. Axne sent a letter requesting USDA immediately authorize emergency relief programs to assist Iowa farmers impacted by the severe flood. President Trump's disaster declaration allowed for the USDA to authorize specific recovery programs, including Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program and the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), which are vital to helping Iowa farmers recover and rebuild. On March 25th, USDA announced the authorization of these programs for Nebraska farmers. Rep. Axne is committed to holding USDA accountable to providing Iowa farmers with the assistance they need to rebuild and recover from this flood.

The full text of the letter is available here (https://www.scribd.com/document/405079077/040519-Letter-to-Leadership-on-Disaster-Funding) and below:

April 5, 2019

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Leader, United States Senate

Washington D.C., 20515

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy

House Minority Leader

Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Charles Schumer

Senate Minority Leader

Washington D.C., 20515

Dear Madam Speaker, Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader McCarthy, and Minority Leader Schumer,

I am deeply disappointed that the Senate failed to pass a disaster funding bill.

We must not turn our backs on our communities when they are recovering from the devastating damage of natural disasters. That's not who we are as Iowans, and that's not who we are as Americans.

In Southwest Iowa, towns are completely under water, communities are without clean drinking water, and family farms are destroyed from historic flooding. Small businesses are facing irreparable damage and local schools may never be able to re-open their doors.

Right now, Iowans are staying in campers and tents outside of community buildings, calculating overwhelming financial loss of livestock and stored grain, and sleeping 2-3 hours per night in between helping their neighbors and clearing debris. Many people have lost both their homes and their small businesses. And every day without the proper recovery resources means that Iowans in these small, rural towns are less likely to re-establish residency and these communities might die.

I know my district is not alone in desperately needing this help. I know communities across the country are suffering from devastating disasters. All of us were elected to bring the voices and needs of our local communities to Washington. When our governors, our local officials and our emergency management teams tell us what they need to rebuild and recover, we must act. Now is not the time for political games.

I'm calling on the House and the Senate to immediately pass a disaster relief bill that fully funds recovery programs for all affected areas, including Iowa.