Harris campaign names Republicans who voted against FEMA funding

Kamala Harris' campaign publicly named 99 Republicans who voted against Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding two weeks ago.

The vote was part of a $20 billion package on September 25th. The bill passed both the House and Senate, but 82 representatives and 18 senators, all Republicans, voted against the bill.

These included lawmakers from some of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene, such as Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

On October 7, Kamala Harris' campaign account posted on

The post received over 2 million views and a mixed reaction from commenters. The RNC was contacted by email outside of business hours for comment.

Critics have various reasons for opposing FEMA funding, including a belief that the money is mismanaged.

One of the lawmakers who voted against the bill was the chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Rep. Scott Perry.

As part of his Sept. 5 opening statement to the subcommittee he chairs, Rep. Perry said FEMA is spending taxpayer dollars to “amplify climate science messages to increase public demand for building codes and standards,” which he said should fall within the jurisdiction of individual states.

Representative Perry was contacted via email outside of business hours for comment.

Some Republican lawmakers, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, have also accused FEMA of assisting migrants instead of helping American citizens. FEMA has disputed this claim, saying, “No money will be diverted to disaster relief.”

FEMA has coordinated a force of nearly 7,000 federal workers to provide meals, water, generators, tarps and other supplies and equipment on the ground in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia, which were declared disaster areas in response to the devastation , left behind by Hurricane Helene on September 24th.

Florida is currently preparing for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to hit Florida today.

FEMA has also had to defend itself against a flood of disinformation about the organization. A page on its website entitled “Rumor Response” reviews the facts spread about the organization’s work.

According to its website, “FEMA provides assistance to survivors regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status.”

That's what Florida Rep. Gus Bilirakis, who voted against the bill, said Newsweek: “I have traveled throughout my district over the past few days and witnessed the devastation suffered by my constituents as a result of Hurricane Helene.”

“It is unimaginable that we must prepare for another potentially catastrophic hurricane before these residents have even begun to rebuild. I am very concerned for my district and all Floridians as we brace for a very dangerous storm. I encourage my constituents to follow the advice of local emergency experts and stay as safe as possible in the coming days. This is a time when we need to support each other.

“I support returning to Washington as quickly as possible to vote on a stand-alone bill that ensures FEMA and NFIP are funded at the levels necessary to respond to Milton and future disasters, without catastrophic ones like the CR policies and wasteful spending.” .

“I am currently working with federal, state and local officials to determine the specific amounts that need to be included and programmatic language that allows for greater flexibility in reimbursement for activities that allow state and local have enabled governments to respond to these amounts in successive emergencies.

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