WASHINGTON DC (April 12, 2019) — Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa joined Sens Johnny Isakson and David Perdue of Georgia, as well as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and 10 other senators in expressing disappointment in Congress’s failure to deliver critical disaster-aid to their states to assist in recovery-efforts from natural disasters in 2018 and 2019.
The sens have worked to negotiate in good-faith since 2018 on a bipartisan disaster-relief package to provide funding across the continental United States as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands for regions that have experienced droughts, flooding, hurricanes, storms, volcanoes, wildfires, and other natural disasters. Many of these states, including Georgia, have not received the federal disaster-assistance they were promised months ago. Other states would see a down-payment on disasters that have occurred more recently, such as in the Midwest, where flooding is ongoing, and in Alabama and Georgia, where tornadoes devastated lives and communities earlier this year.
Historically, the federal government has stepped in to help victims recovering from natural disasters, and the same action is overdue and badly-needed for these affected states. Despite months of negotiations, efforts to advance funding have stalled over partisan disagreements.
“Iowa farmers are under water, literally and financially, due to the floods that have ravaged portions of the state,” Sen Grassley said. “It is the responsibility of Congress to step up during times of crisis and help out our fellow Americans. But rather than come to the aid of disaster-victims in Iowa and throughout the country, congressional Democrats are playing politics. Iowans who need help to put their lives back together will certainly remember this as the same Democrat senators who voted ‘no’ ask for their vote in 2020.”
On April 1, the Senate took votes on two amendments that would have provided funding for Iowa and other disasters. Both pieces of legislation failed to receive the necessary 60 votes to move forward.
