Florida Senator Rick Scott's Reaction to Hurricane Victims Looking for Federal Assistance

Dear Fellow Floridian,

I've been on the ground in Florida surveying the damage and talking to Floridians as our state prepared for, and now responds to and recovers from, Hurricanes Helene and Milton. What's clear is that Florida families, farmers, growers, producers and small businesses need their federal government to show up where they are and help them get back on their feet. 

Our farmers, ranchers, and growers are the backbone of Florida. They work around the clock every single day to ensure families in the Sunshine State and around the country have what they need. So far, the federal government's response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Since Hurricane Ian hit our state in 2022, Florida's farmers, ranchers and growers have been doing the miraculous work of getting by with less because the federal government has failed to show up in their time of need. Unfortunately, I am also hearing from local officials and families in Florida who share these frustrations, as these disasters have stretched FEMA's current resources too thin. That is unacceptable, and why I announced legislation to provide $20 billion for FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund. 

I've also spoken to President Biden and USDA Secretary Vilsack multiple times to urge the administration to take action now and approve USDA block grants for our farmers and tell Senate Democrats to stop blocking this aid. No state is immune from disasters and I hope that none of our colleagues in the Senate will object to the quick passage of this needed funding. 

Along with my bill with Senator Rubio, I continue to urge Majority Leader Schumer to bring back the Senate to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants, and I'm glad that, in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done. While Floridians are incredibly resilient and will rebuild stronger than ever, it's going to be an all-hands-on-deck effort at the local, state and federal level to come together and support these communities. I'm going to keep fighting like hell to deliver the federal resources Floridians need to recover.

For my full Hurricane Milton resource guide, click HERE. For my full Hurricane Helene resource guide, click HERE.

Sincerely,

Rick Scott

United States Senator