This week, Gov. Ron DeSantis urged President Donald Trump to declare a Major Disaster as Florida, like the rest of the nation, deals with the continue coronavirus problem.
On Sunday, DeSantis wrote Trump asking the president to include Individual Assistance Programs in the declaration including Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Community Disaster Loans and the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program. The letter can be read here.
DeSantis asked for Trump to backdate the disaster to January 20 and include the entire state in the declaration.
Members of the Florida delegation on Capitol Hill lined up behind the governor including the state’s two U.S. senators.
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Rick Scott, R-Fla., wrote Trump on the matter on Monday.
“We write to express support for the request made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that a major disaster declaration be issued for Florida as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19). According to the Florida Department of Health, there are 1,171 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and new diagnoses are rising daily. Federal government resources as well as coordination between federal and state and local officials are critical to Florida’s efforts to effectively and expediently combat the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rubio and Scott wrote Trump.
We urge you to promptly approve Governor DeSantis’ request for a major disaster declaration, so that the state of Florida can use a fuller range of resources to manage the unprecedented difficulties posed by COVID-19,” they added. “Thank you for your consideration of this request.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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