Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Warren Davidson released the following statement concerning his “NO” vote on the $81 billion Hurricane and Wildlife Disaster "Stimulus” Supplemental. Davidson does not consider this bill to be emergency aid as it almost doubles the $44 billion funding request that was initially made by President Trump.

“I fully support the families in California, Texas and Florida and all those affected by the destructive force of these recent hurricanes and wildfires; but including unaccountable spending projects in disaster relief efforts is different. I can't support a bill that masquerades as emergency aid while wildly spending America down a path to bankruptcy. In its current state, this is another example of a Washington, D.C. spending spree that sticks Ohioans and others with billions in debt. We should wholeheartedly respond to help families affected by these natural disasters, but we need to do so responsibly.”

H.R. 4667, the Hurricane and Wildfire Disaster Supplemental bill appropriates $81 billion in total disaster relief of which: $27.6 billion for FEMA Disaster Relief Funds, $27.8 billion for Community Development Block Grants for disaster recovery and infrastructure, $12 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $4 billion for education and public health activities, $1.6 billion for Small Business Disaster Loans, $1.5 billion for defense facility repairs, and $3.8 billion for agriculture assistance. The bill also makes additional changes that would make cotton grows eligible for the Price Loss Coverage Program and removes the annual livestock insurance cap.

According to Congressional Budget Office, less than 14 percent of these funds will actually be spent by the end of September 2018. What’s more, only $67 billion of these funds will be spent by 2027. Additionally, the Community Development Block Grants alone in the bill are retroactively made available to individuals affected by natural disasters that stretch back to Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Rep. Davidson supported the reforms in the National Flood Insurance Program which passed the House in November.

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