A South Carolina consultant is trying to redirect funds to hurricane reduction efforts from a FEMA program that helps migrant arrivals — one for which a handful of Massachusetts congressmen had requested $3 billion.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace has referred to as for the termination of FEMA’s Shelter and Providers Program, requesting all unspent funds be redirected to assist People recuperate from pure disasters.
5 of Massachusetts’ 9 representatives urged the Home Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Safety final March to direct $3 billion in funding to the shelter program.
Mace referred to as out the 20 Home members who signed the letter in an X put up on Friday.
“Remember when 20 far-Left, America-last members of Congress thought it was brilliant to demand $3 billion in extra FEMA funds,” Mace wrote, “not for disaster relief, but to house and feed illegal aliens?”
“Wonder if they’ll push for a dime to help Americans impacted by Hurricane Helene,” she added.
Reps. Lori Trahan, D-Massachusetts, and Diana DeGette, of Colorado, led the unsuccessful push. Reps. Jim McGovern, Invoice Keating, Ayanna Pressley and Seth Moulton signed on from the Bay State.
In response to a Herald request for remark, Trahan posted on X Saturday afternoon, slamming Mace.
“Two weeks ago, the House voted to fund $20 billion for FEMA, which is now being used to support communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. Nancy Mace voted no,” Trahan wrote. “The real question is if she’ll vote for a dime to help Americans recovering from the storm. She hasn’t so far.”
Congress in late September replenished FEMA’s Catastrophe Reduction fund with $20 billion — the identical quantity the company acquired final yr to pay for restoration from hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and different disasters.
About $8 billion has been put aside for restoration from earlier storms and mitigation tasks. The $20 billion is a part of a short-term authorities spending invoice to fund the federal government by means of Dec. 20, which additionally offers FEMA flexibility to attract on the cash extra rapidly as wanted.
The Herald didn’t instantly obtain feedback from McGovern, Keating, Pressley and Moulton. McGovern and Pressley’s X feeds have been lively Friday night time and Saturday, however no posts talked about hurricane reduction efforts.
This all comes as Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee proceed to grapple with the fallout of Helene, a Class 4 hurricane that has killed greater than 200 individuals — the deadliest mainland hurricane since Katrina in 2005.
Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated final week that whereas the Federal Emergency Administration Company can meet fast wants, it doesn’t have sufficient funding to make it by means of the hurricane season, till the top of November.
Mayorkas’ remarks underscored considerations voiced by President Biden and a few lawmakers earlier within the week that Congress might must move a supplemental spending invoice to assist states with restoration efforts.
“It’s unacceptable for Americans to grapple with the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene while the federal government remains fixated on spending hundreds of millions on a program sheltering illegal immigrants instead of helping our own citizens,” Mace stated Friday.
When requested if Trahan would favor allocating extra funding for hurricane reduction, a member of her workplace advised the Herald: “Absolutely. She has always supported bipartisan disaster relief efforts since being elected to Congress.”
Per federal officers, FEMA’s Shelter and Providers Program companions with the U.S. Customs and Border Safety, with the intent to “support CBP in the safe, orderly and humane release of noncitizen migrants from short-term holding facilities.”
This system acquired $650 million in funding in fiscal yr 2024 from the CBP.
Trahan and the opposite representatives’ request for $3 billion got here amid the persevering with migrant inflow and disaster. They highlighted backlogs in immigration-related companies and the way native communities have been stepping up “to provide humanitarian support.”
“In Woburn, Massachusetts, local community leaders and school teachers worked to clothe and feed migrants,” a part of the letter highlighted. “However, without additional federal resources, these communities and so many others can only do so much.”
The Biden-Harris administration in late August awarded Massachusetts greater than $20 million from this system to assist household shelter prices.
“Massachusetts urgently needs federal support as we work to meet unprecedented demand on our family shelter system as a result of a surge in immigrant families arriving in our state,” Gov. Maura Healey stated in a launch.
Former President Donald Trump has additionally accused FEMA of spending all its cash to assist immigrants within the nation illegally.
FEMA has referred to as the accusations “completely false.”
“The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA’s disaster-related authorities or funding streams,” a DHS spokesperson stated.
Catastrophe survivors have acquired $750 for fast help – garments, meals, and many others. – from FEMA. The company can present different issues like cash for a storage unit, medical payments, or rental help relying on the state of affairs.
For householders, the primary line of protection is at all times insurance coverage. Those that don’t have insurance coverage or not sufficient can flip to FEMA, however the most quantity somebody can get to rebuild is $42,500.
“This is one of the kind of major problems FEMA has in terms of how the public understands their role and responsibility,” stated Samantha L. Montano, an assistant professor of emergency administration on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “FEMA does not make anybody whole after a disaster happens. They are not going to give you enough money to completely recover your life.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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