WASHINGTON, D.C. (WCAX) – This week Welch took to the Senate floor to ask Congress to pass long-term disaster relief funding following the catastrophic flooding in 2023.
Welch is harping on the importance of delivering flexible funds through the ‘community development block grants-disaster relief program.’
The program is designed to give communities extra help in recovering from natural disasters and preparing for future ones.
“But what happens after the waters recede, after the FEMA emergency folks are gone, is that the hard work of actually rebuilding that house, repairing that business, that is left in the community. And if they don’t have that disaster relief funding and the flexibility that’s required to the very particular challenges in that community, then we haven’t completed the job,” said Welch.
Welch emphasized that while the flooding was almost a year ago, recovery from the disaster is still underway, and for those affected – bureaucratic hoops only make that process more complicated.