Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) issued the following statement today after voting in favor of final passage of the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, which provides increased funding to disaster recovery programs:

“I voted for this aid package to send support to Americans hit by natural disasters, but this bill represents the bare minimum that Congress can do to help, particularly with respect to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands,” said Rep. Beyer. “Following Donald Trump’s threat to abandon Puerto Rico in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, Congress should guarantee its full support to Americans suffering in the wake of natural disasters. Federal emergency management must not leave Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands until it has restored electricity and access to clean, potable water for everyone.”

The aid package, which passed with significant bipartisan support, contains $18.7 billion in funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, including $4.9 billion to help fund recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, as well as $676.6 million for fighting wildfires and $16 billion in debt forgiveness for the National Flood Insurance Program in order to pay claims for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.