Rep. Cleaver, Missouri Delegation Urge President Trump to Support Disaster Declaration for Areas Impacted by Severe Weather

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 23 -- Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri, issued the following news release:

The entire Missouri congressional delegation, including U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II, Sam Graves, Wm. Lacy Clay, Jason Smith, Billy Long, Vicky Hartzler, Ann Wagner, and Blaine Leutkemeyer, as well as U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, sent a letter urging President Trump to support Governor Mike Parson's request for a federal emergency disaster declaration for 19 counties impacted by severe storms and tornadoes in early May. The disaster declaration is a necessary step in order for these counties to access critically important federal resources for recovery efforts.

"State and federal assessment teams have observed damage to electric power systems and public infrastructure as a result of the storms; State Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have estimated that more than $9.3 million in damages are eligible for federal assistance. This event has compounded the financial stress that already encumbers the state due to COVID-19," the delegation wrote. "We respectfully request your prompt action to ensure that these communities receive the immediate support needed to respond to the disaster."

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or [email protected] A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here https://cleaver.house.gov/sites/cleaver.house.gov/files/featured_image/Official%20Photo%202018%20%232.jpg.

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June 19, 2020

To: The Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We write in support of Governor Mike Parson's request for a federal emergency disaster declaration authorized by the Stafford Act for 19 of Missouri's 114 counties as result of severe storms and tornadoes on May 3-4, 2020.

State and federal assessment teams have observed damage to electric power systems and public infrastructure as a result of the storms; Missouri State Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have estimated that more than $9.3 million in damages are eligible for federal assistance. This event has compounded the financial stress that already encumbers the state due to COVID-19.

State and local governments continue to be burdened by the costs that have been incurred in the ongoing effort to protect life and property due to storms in Missouri over the past year, and during this public health emergency period.

We respectfully request your prompt action to ensure that these communities receive the immediate support needed to respond to the disaster. Along with our fellow Missourians, we appreciate your attention to this request and stand ready to assist in any way possible.

See signatories here: https://cleaver.house.gov/sites/cleaver.house.gov/files/MODEL%20Support%20Letter%206-19-20.pdf