On October 4, 2024, Congressman Doug LaMalfa posted the following on Facebook: “FEMA was created to help Americans recover from natural disasters, but under the Biden-Harris administration, the agency’s focus has shifted. The Shelter and Services Program, intended to help with emergency relief, is now directing over $1 billion in taxpayer money to provide housing and services for illegal immigrants. At a time when so many Americans are facing their own disaster-related challenges, FEMA shouldn’t be spending our tax dollars on illegal aliens. Is this really how we want to see our disaster resources being used?’
Let’s set the facts straight. First, Shelter and Services Program funds cannot be used for emergency relief as LaMalfa claims. It is illegal for funding that is appropriated by Congress for one purpose to be diverted and used for another purpose.
Congress dictates the amount of funding FEMA receives for its various activities. There is the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) and the Shelter and Services Program (SSP). Congress allocated nearly $20 billion to DRF in fiscal year 2024 and $22 billion for fiscal year 2025. The DRF is a dedicated fund used for natural disaster response efforts, individual assistance and cannot be transferred to another fund. Also, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for DRF cash assistance programs, according to the FEMA website.
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Republicans/Conservatives not only spread misinformation. They spread disinformation.
Related to FEMA, the irony is that Republicans in Florida voted against FEMA funding the day/s before the hurricanes hit in Florida. I will include the names and what was said, so people can search it themselves and the source:
“The concessions still weren’t enough for the nearly 100 Republicans in the House and Senate who voted against the resolution that passed – and the $20 billion funding base it allocated to FEMA as Hurricane Helene bore down on the East Coast. Many of those Republicans represent Florida, which is now bracing for Hurricane Milton. Reps. Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Kat Cammack, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Laurel Lee, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills, Bill Posey, Mike Waltz, and Daniel Webster all voted against the bill in the House.”
It’s their stupid blame game so they can say that the current administration did “NOTHING” to address the disaster issues despite calls from Kamala/Biden’s office. Republicans aren’t fooling anyone. Information travels faster than a the blink of an eye. The day and age of information passing through horse and buggy is over. I hope people in Florida votes them out!
Not surprised someone like LaMalfa doesn’t understand how governmental procedure works. Shouldn’t this make voters concerned?