WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement after voting to pass a major disaster relief package:

“Desperately needed disaster aid is on its way to Florida families and business owners to help them recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

“The $100 billion disaster aid package will deliver resources to help Tampa Bay neighbors get back on their feet, cover costly debris removal, and repair MacDill Air Force Base and local Coast Guard stations. The package provides support to rebuild housing, water plants, and other critical infrastructure across Tampa Bay.

“The legislation includes $29 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund, the primary federal disaster relief fund that provides financial assistance to individuals to repair their homes and property, as well as assisting state and local governments with debris removal, infrastructure repair and hazard mitigation. Funding ensures that FEMA has the resources it needs to process applications for assistance through the January 07, 2025, deadline. 

“To help individuals rebuild and reopen, it includes $2.25 billion for low-interest Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans for businesses, homeowners, renters and private non-profit organizations. SBA will now be able to make loan offers to the over 11,600 applicants in the queue. Disaster-impacted neighbors should continue to apply for disaster loans through January 07, 2025.

“To safeguard our national security, support our service members and ensure military readiness, the legislation importantly includes significant funding to address damage at MacDill and the St. Pete Coast Guard stations. Funding may be used to repair hangers and runways, base housing, child care centers and other critical infrastructure.

“The legislation also includes major funding to harden our water and wastewater infrastructure against flooding events, protecting the health and safety of our neighbors and Tampa Bay.

“I am proud to have championed many of these provisions and am committed to further recovery needs in the days ahead.”

This sweeping legislation includes:

• $29 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to address urgent recovery needs;
• $12 billion in Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery to support long-term housing, infrastructure and economic recovery needs;
• $2.25 billion for low-interest SBA disaster loans;
• $3.4 billion to repair disaster-impacted Department of Defense facilities, like MacDill AFB;
• $312.7 million to repair Coast Guard facilities, like Sector St. Pete and Air Station Clearwater;
• $68 million to repair impacted VA facilities, like Bay Pines Veterans Hospital;
• $3.25 billion to upgrade water and wastewater systems;
• $1.5 billion for disaster-related water projects, including funding to help renourish Florida beaches; and
• $1 billion for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initiatives, including $400,000 for Gulf of Mexico and oceanic research repair at St. Petersburg Bayboro Harbor. 

In the end, Democrats were able to stop Musk and Republicans from paving the way for a huge new tax cut for billionaires at the expense of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. We stood firm on that commitment. The American people won this round. But the fight isn’t over: Musk won’t stop demanding tax cuts for billionaires and huge cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ health care, and food assistance.