Rep. Nadler, Members of N.Y. Delegation Make Successful Bipartisan, Bicameral Request to President Biden to Commit Federal Resources to Ida Recovery

NEW YORK, New York, Sept. 4 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following news release:

On Thursday, Representative Jerry Nadler and Members of the New York delegation sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging President Joe Biden to immediately grant Governor Kathy Hochul's request for federal resources to support the response to Hurricane Ida's impacts on the state. Hours after the request was made, the president subsequently issued an emergency declaration for the State of New York, designating FEMA assistance for the counties of Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Additional designations may be made as evaluations continue.

This week, millions of people experienced historic flooding and winds from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which had become a tropical depression after ravaging parts of Louisiana and Mississippi. New York residents experienced flooded homes, damaged vehicles, and an inability to access critical public infrastructure like public transportation and hospitals. Tragically, this storm took at least 15 lives in New York. The impact of the storm will add significant health and economic strain at a time when many are already struggling from the impacts of the pandemic. On Thursday, Governor Hochul officially requested that the emergency declaration issued for Hurricane Ida be extended to include their respective states as a result of the severe impact of the storm.

"I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of life from Hurricane Ida in New York and throughout the Northeast. I am pleased that the Biden Administration has stood alongside Governor Hochul and the New York Congressional delegation in offering much needed federal aid," said Rep. Nadler. "Emergency aid is needed now, but this is a painful reminder that we must continue to fight for transformative, climate-focused infrastructure investment. We can't afford to wait."

"As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge in cases of the Delta variant, it is critical that everyone who calls New York home has reliable electricity, telephone, and internet service," the members wrote in the letter. "Combined with the challenges already facing municipal budgets in both states, and ongoing recovery from several major disasters in recent years and today's co-existing pandemic, the extensive damages caused by Hurricane Ida pose a serious threat to New York's economic recovery. Federal assistance is urgently needed."

"On behalf of our constituents, we respectfully urge you to grant Governor Hochul's request and immediately deploy federal resources to support the response to Hurricane Ida. We stand ready to work together to address this crisis and thank you in advance for your prompt consideration of this request."

Members from the New York delegation who joined the letter are Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Mondaire Jones (D-NY), John Katko (R-NY), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Kathleen M. Rice (D-NY), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Nydia Velasquez (D-NY), and Lee Zeldin (R-NY).

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September 2, 2021

To: President Joseph R. Biden, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden:

On September 2, 2021, New York Governor Hochul officially requested an Emergency Declaration for the State of New York as a result of the severe impact the storm had. As Members of Congress representing communities directly impacted by the severe winds, heavy rains, and record-breaking flooding, we urge you to issue such a declaration as soon as possible.

Last night, our constituents experienced historic flooding and winds from the remnants of PostTropical DepressionIda. As a result, thousands of New Yorkers woke up this morning with flooded homes, damaged vehicles, and an inability to access critical public infrastructure like public transportation and hospitals. Tragically, this storm also took numerous lives, with still potentially more people who have not been accounted for. The impact of Ida will also leave us with many significant health and economic strain as the people of our states work to find a safe path to recovery in an already difficult time.

New York State has deployed significant resources in response to Ida across the state Department of Transportation, Thruway Authority, Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Department of Public Service, New York State Police, New York Power Authority, New York State Canal Corporation, the Canal Corporation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority and Department of Financial Services. Substantial funding will be required in infrastructure repair and debris removal costs that exceed both the per capita threshold and the Statewide threshold.

As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge in cases of the Delta variant, it is critical that everyone who calls New York home has reliable electricity, telephone, and internet service. Combined with the challenges already facing municipal budgets in both states, and ongoing recovery from several major disasters in recent years and today's co-existing pandemic, the extensive damages caused by Ida pose a serious threat to New York's economic recovery. Federal assistance is urgently needed.

On behalf of our constituents, we respectfully urge you to grant Governor Hochul's requests and immediately deploy federal resources to support the response to Post-Tropical Depression Ida.

We stand ready to work together to address this crisis and thank you in advance for your prompt consideration of this request.

View co-signers at https://bowman.house.gov/_cache/files/7/b/7bf948c8-888c-4f25-a4d1-072022774250/6780972B38A20C676A02583CEA8FB01A.ida-disaster-declaration-letter-of-support-ny-final-09.02.21-7.17pm.pdf