Moskowitz Stands Ready to Return to Congress to Fund FEMA in Wake of Helene Destruction

PARKLAND, FL – Today, Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) issued the following statement following reports that President Biden “may have to” request Congress come back into session to pass a supplemental spending bill to support the Hurricane Helene recovery effort:

“I stand ready to return to Washington to immediately ensure FEMA has the resources to help the communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. Thank you to President Biden for sending all available resources to the impacted states. Congress should have been proactive on this issue. As the only former emergency management director in Congress, I have been sounding the alarm for months that this would be a problem if we just left for recess without properly funding FEMA during the height of hurricane season. Congress must show that it can still deliver for the American people in their hour of greatest need. So, let’s get back to work and pass a bipartisan, long-term solution with no poison pills or politicking involved,” Congressman Moskowitz said.

Moskowitz, a Democrat, served as Florida’s Director of Emergency Management from 2019-2021 under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. 

Moskowitz introduced bills to replenish FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund in June 2023 and 2024. FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund is facing a nearly $2 billion deficit at the end of September. FEMA has been in “immediate needs” mode for weeks, resulting in stalled payments for past disasters and delays in future disaster planning measures.

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