Diaz-Balart, Wasserman Schultz Announce Legislation Directing FEMA to Provide Assistance to Florida Victims of Hurricane Katrina

September 2, 2005

Diaz-Balart, Wasserman Schultz Announce Legislation Directing FEMA to Provide Assistance to Florida Victims of Hurricane Katrina

MIAMI-Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) held a joint press conference today with local Broward and Miami-Dade officials to announce the introduction of bi-partisan legislation in Congress that would direct FEMA to provide individual assistance to Floridians who suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina.

"Hurricane Katrina will undoubtedly go down as the worst natural disaster in our nation's history," said Congressman Diaz-Balart. "In addition to the horrific devastation along the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina also left hundreds of South Florida homes badly damaged. While Floridians are resilient and will overcome this catastrophe, federal individual assistance will help make the clean-up and recovery quicker. I thank the counties and the state for acting quickly to appeal FEMA's initial ruling. This legislation will help make sure our constituents receive the assistance they deserve."

"Florida has been hit by six hurricanes in the past two years," said Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz. "Denying the people of Florida federal assistance to rebuild their lives is insensitive and irresponsible, particularly after we've fallen victim to so many storms. Our legislation will direct FEMA to reverse their callous and illogical decision."

On Aug. 31, FEMA rejected a request by Miami-Dade and Broward counties to provide individual assistance to local homeowners whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The counties and the governor are appealing the decision. H.R. 3723, sponsored by Rep. Wasserman Schultz, is co-sponsored by the 24 other members of Florida's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives and is a direct result of FEMA's decision to deny individual assistance claims to Florida's victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The damage suffered by Floridians as a result of Hurricane Katrina has been widely reported, with estimates of damage to over 350 homes and crop losses of around $492 million. Florida emergency management officials have stated that nearly 11,000 residents of Florida are seeking relief as a result of Hurricane Katrina, with roughly 58 percent of those making less than $20,000 annually.

http://www.house.gov/mariodiaz-balart/news/2005news/090905_fema_legislation.htm