When the Congress was As Democrats debated a short-term government funding resolution last month, they pushed for the bill to provide billions in additional funding for disaster relief. A cohort of far-right conservatives supported a slimmed-down resolution that included no additional disaster relief money — and ultimately prevailed.

However, the approved measure extended funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the end of the year; It simply did not provide additional funding to FEMA — which is already running a deficit — in the middle of hurricane season. “The right-wing people here, the MAGA people, have opposed disaster relief to communities in need even after disasters,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Florida). Politically after the bridging law was passed.

The concessions still weren’t enough for the nearly 100 Republicans in the House and Senate who voted against the passed resolution — and the $20 billion it gave to FEMA as Hurricane Helene tore through the East Coast. Many of these Republicans represent Florida, which is now preparing for Hurricane Milton. Reps. Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Kat Cammack, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Laurel Lee, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills, Bill Posey, Mike Waltz and Daniel Webster all voted against the bill in the House.

Some of the Republicans who voted against funding FEMA are now calling for more money.

“Stop this crap. We need free FEMA DOLLARS,” Rep. Anna Paulina Luna posted on X-Monday. On Tuesday, Luna introduced legislation to provide $10 billion from FEMA for disaster relief in Florida.

Luna represents Clearwater and St. Petersburg on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Your district could be significantly impacted by Hurricane Milton. After Hurricane Helene, Luna said in a statement that “her constituents in Pinellas County depend on Congress to take swift and decisive action following this unprecedented disaster caused by Hurricane Helene,” adding, “I am ready and willing to return to Washington and ensure our communities receive the critical resources needed for a rapid recovery.”

Gaetz, who also voted against funding FEMA, said in a post on X that “FEMA is completely screwing up the hurricane relief effort.”

He also spreads the lie that FEMA misused disaster relief funds for undocumented immigrants. Former President Donald Trump has made similar claims, as has Cammack, another Florida Republican who voted against the stopgap bill. “I started sounding the alarm years ago about FEMA using its money for illegals instead of Americans,” she wrote on X, citing a 2022 post about FEMA using money for illegal migrants.

FEMA’s operating budget, part of which actually goes to undocumented immigrants, and the disaster relief budget approved by Congress are separate. Trump, not Biden, withdrew money from FEMA’s disaster relief fund to use at the border.

All 11 Republicans in the Florida House of Representatives who voted against maintaining government funding – and FEMA – last month signed a bipartisan letter to Biden just days later calling for “direct federal assistance” in the wake of Hurricane Helene demanded the state.

The Biden administration has been praised by local lawmakers of both parties for its response to the devastation in the Southeast, and FEMA said it had provided more than $137 million in aid to six states as of Sunday. Biden sent a letter to congressional leaders last week noting that FEMA and other government agencies are “performing critical life-saving and life-sustaining missions and will continue to do so within current funding levels” and that he “fully supports this.” totally expected.” Congress will do its part to provide the resources needed.”

When House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) was asked by Fox News on Sunday about the letter and whether he would call Congress back for an emergency session to appropriate more funding, Johnson practically shrugged and said that some It will take time to determine the cost of the damage. “We will meet again immediately after the election,” he said.