Sen. Rubio Urges Swift House Action on Senate Passed Disaster Bill

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, issued the following news release:

Today, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded Senate passage of a disaster supplemental that will provide much-needed funds to Florida's Northwest communities, which were devastated by Hurricane Michael more than seven months ago. With Senate passage, Rubio urged the U.S. House of Representatives to swiftly approve the long overdue disaster relief package, and send the measure to the president for signature. The funding will allow the Air Force to continue to its rebuild of Tyndall Air Force Base and also provides critical resources to Puerto Rico.

Broadcast quality video of Rubio applauding the Senate's passage of the disaster relief package is available here (https://lfts.senate.gov/seos/1000/mpd/ui08062019dbc754557f89baea5a45f685a314e448).

"This agreement is long overdue, and I urge the House to approve this agreement without delay," Rubio said. "It is shameful that Hurricane Michael survivors in Northwest Florida were used as political pawns while they were suffering and trying to piece their lives, homes, and communities back together."

The $19.1 billion disaster supplemental contains funds to address 2018 hurricanes, wildfires, flooding and other 2019 natural disasters. Florida's agriculture industry will benefit, having access to more than $4.4 billion in funding. The bill also provides $1.67 billion in funding for the Air Force, of which they will use to rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base. It includes multiple provisions related to Puerto Rico including: $600 million for disaster nutrition assistance; $304 million in Community Development Block Grant funds; and $5 million for a Puerto Rico Nutrition Study to assess the impact of additional benefits provided through disaster nutrition assistance.

The bill also reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program through September 30, 2019.

A summary of the bill can be found here (https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Emergency%20Supplemental%20Summary_Disaster.pdf).