Congressman Cleaver Votes for Disaster Relief Bill to Provide Funding For Missouri Communities Devastated By Natural Disasters

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in support of a supplemental funding bill that would provide $19.1 billion of relief to American communities devastated by natural disasters across the country. The Senate Amendment to H.R. 2157 was passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 354-58. The Senate passed the disaster relief bill on May 23 with a vote of 85-8, however, Republicans in the House blocked the bill from passage three times last week while lawmakers were meeting with constituents and local organizations during the District Work Period.

"While I'm still exceedingly disappointed in the small minority of Republicans who made the selfish decision to hold these traumatized communities hostage for the sake of putrid political talking points, I'm happy Congress passed the supplemental funding bill and provided the relief these communities have been pleading for," said Congressman Cleaver. "It's extremely frustrating that we couldn't get it passed last week, or even months ago, before the levee breaches and additional flooding that occurred in my district just yesterday."

Included in supplemental funding bill are provisions that would grant:

• $3.005 billion for payments for crop and livestock losses due to floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters

• $600 million for flood mitigation, disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure in areas affected by major disasters in 2018 and 2019

• $558 million of emergency funding and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters

• $435 million for financial and technical assistance to states and local sponsors to protect and restore watersheds

• $740 million to accelerate construction of flood and storm damage reduction projects to reduce risk from future floods and hurricanes

• $2.483 billion to repair damages to Corps projects, including $1 billion for Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies

• $2.431 billion in Disaster Recovery Community Development Block Grants, which helps communities rebuild housing, businesses, and public infrastructure

• An extension of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30, 2019

"The vast majority of the country is sick and tired of politics coming before the American people. If we continue to allow political paralysis to obstruct and delay our ability to confront a crisis, then we are in trouble as a nation."

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matthew Helfant at 202-225-4535 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here