[ [link removed] ]Sign the urgent petition to tell Congress: There is no time to waste!
Come back into session and pass disaster relief funding to support
Hurricane Milton and Helene relief efforts NOW!
Dear MoveOn member,
As you read this, our neighbors in Florida are fleeing and bracing for
Hurricane Milton, one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the
Atlantic, which hit 180 mph sustained winds on Monday. And communities in
the southeastern parts of the country that were devastated and destroyed
by Hurricane Helene are still reeling and recovering.
But the truth is, the Disaster Relief Fund, whose budget is set by
Congress, "does not have the funds to make it through" the rest of the
hurricane season.^1 Despite the fact that Americans are suffering through
the aftermath of being battered by a catastrophic hurricane, Republican
House Speaker Mike Johnson said that "there's no rush for Congress to
approve hurricane relief."^2 It's egregious, and there is zero time to
waste. There are lives and entire communities at stake.
[ [link removed] ]John, communities experiencing climate catastrophes need our
help right now. Will you sign the petition to demand that Congress come
back into session and pass the relief funding that our communities
desperately need NOW?
The misinformation that the Republican members of Congress have been
spreading about FEMA and its response to Hurricane Helene has been
dangerous. Even the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
said the false conspiracry theories are dissauding Helene survivors from
seeking the urgent help they need.^3 The truth is that, in response to
Hurricane Helene, FEMA has provided more than $137 million in assistance,
including deploying 7,000 federal personnel, providing nearly 15 million
meals, 14 million gallons of water, 157 generators, and rescuing more than
3,000 North Carolinians and counting.^4
But there are still nearly two months left of hurricane season, and
hurricanes aren't the only climate crises that our country is facing. Our
communities can't wait until Congress comes back into session on November
12. They need relief and they need it NOW.
[ [link removed] ]Congress must come back into session to pass disaster relief funding
NOW. Click here to join nearly 30,000 fellow MoveOn members and sign the
petition, and then send it to three friends to spread the word.
Thanks for all you do.
–Jensine, Mia, Aliya, Isbah, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Fact-checking falsehoods about FEMA funding and Hurricane Helene,"
NPR, October 7, 2024
[link removed]
2. Ibid.
3. "'The worst I have ever seen’: Disinformation chaos hammers FEMA,'"
Politico, October 8, 2024
[link removed]
4. "Fact-checking falsehoods about FEMA funding and Hurricane Helene,"
NPR, October 7, 2024
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[ [link removed] ]Urgent: Sign the petition to demand that Congress come back into
session and pass funding to FULLY support Hurricane Helene relief efforts
NOW!
Dear MoveOn member,
Americans in the southeastern part of the country are struggling with the
wreckage caused by Hurricane Helene. At least 140 people have died and
hundreds more are missing after the hurricane pummeled Florida, Georgia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, devastating many homes and
communities.^5 The death toll could surpass 600, and more than 2 million
people remain without power.^6 Neighbors and local governments are doing
what they can to respond to this crisis, but they need help.
[ [link removed] ]When natural disasters like Hurricane Helene strike, residents need to
know that their government and community have their back. Will you sign
the petition to demand that Congress return to pass disaster relief NOW?
Congress has the power to make sure that our neighbors in states impacted
by Category 4 Hurricane Helene get the funding needed for rescue efforts
to save lives, basic necessities like water, food, and prescriptions, and
rebuilding their communities, homes, roads, businesses, and
infrastructure.^7 Congress is currently out of session through November
12, but relief can't wait. So we have to come together to make sure they
return and get it done—because hundreds of thousands of impacted people
are counting on the lifesaving resources that Congress can deliver.
[ [link removed] ]John, will you sign the petition to demand that members of
Congress come back into session and pass funding to FULLY support
Hurricane Helene relief efforts NOW?
President Biden and congressional leaders have the power to call Congress
back into session. They must do so and Congress must come back into
session to pass a supplemental funding package that will support Hurricane
Helene relief efforts NOW.
[7]Sign the petition
Just last week, Congress passed a bill that would fund the government
through December, but despite forecasted hurricanes and wildfires raging,
it left out billions of dollars that were requested for supplemental
disaster funding—which would’ve been available now to communities impacted
by Hurricane Helene.^8
Frustrated by underfunded disaster relief, Representative Kathy Castor of
Florida said, "The right-wingers here, the MAGA crowd, even after
disasters happen, they have opposed disaster aid for communities in
need.^"9 It's completely unacceptable.
[ [link removed] ]Members of Congress must right this wrong immediately by coming back
into session and passing a supplemental funding package that will support
Hurricane Helene relief efforts NOW! Click here to sign the petition.
FEMA's disaster relief fund is already depleted and is currently at a
nearly $2 billion deficit, forcing them to hold back billions of dollars
in rebuilding projects to support more lifesaving work.^10 But this was
avoidable. FEMA should have the funding it needs to provide relief to our
communities, which are enduring one climate catastrophe after another.
Disaster funding should never be a partisan issue. Our communities that
have been harmed by Hurricane Helene can't wait until Congress is back in
session in November; they need relief right now. Congress must come back
and pass supplemental disaster funding NOW.
[ [link removed] ]Click here to add your name to this urgent petition, and then pass it
along to three friends to spread the word.
Together, we'll keep fighting and demanding swift action to take on the
fossil fuel industry, fight back against the climate crisis, and protect
our communities from all climate catastrophes.
Thanks for all you do.
–Jensine, Mia, Aliya, Emma, and the rest of the team
Sources:
5. "The latest on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene," CNN, September 30,
2024
[link removed]
6. Ibid.
7. "Lawmakers stunned as disaster funds left out of stopgap bill," E&E
News, September 26, 2024
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8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. "Hurricane Helene is here. More disaster aid is not." Politico,
September 26, 2024
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