Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart supported funding; Rep. Greg Steube, Sen. Rick Scott were absent
Rep. Byron Donalds (Photo: Office of Rep. Byron Donalds)
Sept. 26, 2024 by David Silverberg
As Hurricane Helene began her run through the Gulf of Mexico, striking Southwest Florida and headed toward what is expected to be a devastating landfall in the Big Bend region, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-19-Fla.) voted against the major bill keeping the federal government functioning and providing funds for flood and disaster assistance.
The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (House Resolution 9747) passed the House of Representatives yesterday, Sept. 25, by a vote of 341 to 82.
Immediately afterward, the Senate also approved the bill by a vote of 78 to 18.
The bill, having been passed by both the House and Senate, now goes to President Biden for signature.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) was absent for the Senate vote. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) voted for it.
The bill funds government operations through Dec. 20 and prevents a government shutdown on Oct. 1, the beginning of the 2025 federal fiscal year.
Of Southwest Florida’s two other congressional representatives, Rep. Greg Steube (R-17-Fla.) was absent. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-26-Fla.) voted for the bill.
While all 82 nay votes were from Republicans, 132 Republicans supported the bill as did 209 Democrats. No Democrats voted against it.
As part of its appropriations, the bill authorizes funding for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to spend money from its Disaster Relief Fund as quickly as necessary to aid Americans in distress.
Both the NFIP and FEMA will be playing major roles in assisting Floridians and coastal communities in coming days as Hurricane Helene, which is expected to be a Category 4 storm when it makes landfall, pounds Florida’s coast.
President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for 41 of Florida’s 67 counties on Tuesday, Sept. 24, making them eligible for federal aid and picking up the tab for 75 percent of response and recovery expenses.
Donalds, who has kept up a steady and vigorous drumbeat of attacks on Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) on the X Internet platform and in media interviews favoring Donald Trump, had not posted any explanation or commentary on his vote as of this writing. Prior to Biden’s emergency declaration, he joined the rest of the Florida congressional delegation in calling for such a declaration.
Liberty lives in light
© 2024 by David Silverberg