Florida Republicans Vote Against Hurricane Assistance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2007

From House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn's Office

Young, Crenshaw, Weldon Vote Against Bill that Speeds Up Assistance for Recovery from Hurricanes Dennis and Wilma 

WASHINGTON, DC-Under pressure from Republican leadership, Florida Republican Representatives Bill Young, Ander Crenshaw and Dave Weldon today voted with their party and against legislation that will help cut the bureaucratic red tape and speed up funding assistance to areas hit by Hurricanes Dennis and Wilma.  The vote was held in the House Appropriations Committee on an emergency war time supplemental funding bill.  The full House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the measure next week.

The legislation includes a provision that waives the 25 percent local funding match, required under the Stafford Act, which will allow stalled reconstruction projects to move forward and help Florida communities rebuild.  Many localities can not get access to federal recovery funds because they do not have the resources available for the matching requirements under law.  This provision alleviates the local funding burden standing in the way of reconstruction.   This provision is similar to an amendment offered by Florida Rep. John Mica last week in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Floridians lost the support of Reps. Young, Crenshaw and Weldon today, but can they count on the support of the remaining 22 members from the Florida delegation?  Next week's vote on the emergency spending bill will tell.