WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a recent letter to President Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined with nine other senators from disaster-impacted states to urge the administration to reevaluate and resubmit its request for supplemental disaster funding. The letter comes as Congress is reviewing requests for FY2025 funding priorities and as communities across the country are still struggling to fully recover from recent disasters – including the devastating floods that hit Vermont last summer and the terrible fires that struck Hawaii.  

 “Last October, the Administration requested $23.5 billion for disaster recovery,” the Senators wrote. “Since then, the need for recovery resources in our communities have grown and evolved. The nation has also witnessed additional crises, including the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland. This funding is essential for our constituents to move forward in rebuilding their homes, lives, businesses, farms, and communities.” 

The Senators continued, “We request that the Administration reevaluate the nation’s outstanding disaster recovery funding requirements and resubmit a request for supplemental appropriations that reflects the current reality. A better understanding of the country’s current urgent needs would inform Congress’s work and we recommend that the Administration act as quickly as possible.” 

The letter was also signed by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.). 

Read the full letter below:  

Dear President Biden,  

We write as representatives of disaster-impacted states to request that the Administration re-examine and resubmit its request for supplemental disaster recovery funding. Our constituents have a long road to recovery ahead and require federal assistance to recover and rebuild. 

Last October, the Administration requested $23.5 billion for disaster recovery. That request included funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program, the Department of Agriculture’s emergency crop loss relief program, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration emergency relief, the Department of Education’s disaster relief, the Small Business Administration’s disaster loans, and recovery funding for a number of specific disaster needs across our states.  Since then, the need for recovery resources in our communities have grown and evolved.  The nation has also witnessed additional crises, including the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.  This funding is essential for our constituents to move forward in rebuilding their homes, lives, businesses, farms, and communities. 

As such, we request that the Administration reevaluate the nation’s outstanding disaster recovery funding requirements and resubmit a request for supplemental appropriations that reflects the current reality. A better understanding of the country’s current urgent needs would inform Congress’s work and we recommend that the Administration act as quickly as possible.   

Thank you for your Administration’s ongoing support and for continuing to work with us to provide critical relief to our states. 

Sincerely, 

###