Battleground Florida: FEMA funds

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa Bay is working to recover from two recent back-to-back hurricanes that impacted the state weeks away from the presidential election.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has come under fire. This comes after the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, expressed that the agency may run out of funds before hurricane season ends.

The Small Business Administration, which is separate from FEMA, has also paused most disaster-related loans.

Congress, which controls FEMA funds allocations, is not expected to reconvene until after the election. In spending bills, there are also breakdowns on how funds, allocated by Congress, can be spent.

Republican politicians have accused FEMA along with the Biden Administration of using disaster-related funds on migrant programs.

“These claims are completely false,” a DHS spokesperson said. “As Secretary Mayorkas said, FEMA has the necessary resources to meet the immediate needs associated with Hurricane Helene and other disasters. The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA’s disaster-related authorities or funding streams.”

Critics have accused GOP politicians of spreading disinformation for political purposes since immigration and border security are key issues during the presidential election.

Two Tamp Bay congressional candidates, from both major parties, hoping to represent portions of Hillsborough County had a passionate discussion about FEMA funding and their opponents.

Democrat Pat Kemp and Republican Rocky Rochford were on a panel.

Political Expert Tara Newsom and FEMA Team Leader Rob Patterson also spoke on a panel pushing back on claims about FEMA and discussing how these claims may impact the upcoming election.

You can watch the panel above.

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