Watch the video HERE. For additional photos and b-roll, click HERE.

CEDAR KEY, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott joined Representative Kat Cammack, Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum, Cedar Key Police Chief Edwin Jenkins and Cedar Key Mayor Heath Davis to tour impacts of Hurricane Idalia in Levy County and receive an update on response and recovery efforts. Following Idalia’s landfall as a major Category 3 hurricane on Florida’s Nature Coast, Senator Scott has traveled to impacted areas and continues to speak with mayors, law enforcement, business and community leaders, utilities and federal officials to ensure Florida’s families and communities are getting every resource needed to respond to and recover from the storm.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The community here in Cedar Key is devastated. Even in the face of catastrophic property damage and loss, these Floridians are so resilient already working together to pick up the pieces. During my visit to Levy County today, my message to these families was that they are not alone. I’ll be here every step of the way to see their full recovery and to make sure that the federal government shows up and delivers the resources they need to fully recover. We have incredible law enforcement and emergency management, along with partners on the state, local and federal levels, working together to support this community and others affected by Hurricane Idalia. While they do critical work on the ground, I’ll be fighting like hell in Washington to immediately pass my Federal Disaster Responsibility Act to fully fund FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, ensure our military bases are rebuilt and restored, secure block grants for Florida’s growers and make sure families hurt in these storms get a tax break for the losses they suffered. I’m grateful for the leadership of Congresswoman Cammack and know that she’ll be fighting alongside me to make sure these families and businesses get back on their feet.”

Representative Kat Cammack said, “Cedar Key and communities across Florida’s Third Congressional District have been devastated by Hurricane Idalia this week. As we work to rebuild and recover over the next days, weeks, and months, I’m proud of how Floridians are working together to support each other during this time. From neighbors and business owners to community leaders and law enforcement, we’re never shy to lend a hand to those in need. My Florida colleagues and I are committed to ensuring federal resources, including from FEMA, the SBA, USDA, and others, are available to everyone affected. I’m grateful to Senator Scott for spending the morning with us and I’m glad to have him standing with us as recovery efforts continue. We will build back stronger.”

Following the urging of Senator Scott and his colleagues in the Florida congressional delegation, President Biden approved Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration yesterday which will help draw down federal resources to help support response and recovery in the state. See more information on resources available following the declaration of the Major Disaster Declaration in Florida from FEMA HERE. Additional information on federal resources available to Floridians and impacted communities following Hurricane Idalia can be found HERE.

Senator Scott also announced his new Federal Disaster Responsibility Act, which he will be fighting to immediately pass when the U.S. Senate reconvenes next week. Learn more below or HERE.

Senator Scott’s Federal Disaster Responsibility Act includes:

• Pass an enhanced version of the Disaster Relief Fund Replenishment Act and fully fund the immediate needs of FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund with at least $16.5 billion to ensure the federal government can uphold its obligation to quickly deploy emergency funding and resources to communities and Americans impacted by natural disasters.
• Ensure final passage of the bipartisan Block Grant Assistance Act which provides needed authority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue block grants to Florida’s citrus growers and all U.S. agriculture producers devastated by natural disasters in 2022.
• Secure final passage of the Hurricane Tax Relief Act which takes care of Americans impacted by disasters by providing disaster-loss tax relief to families who have been impacted by qualified disasters for purposes of enhanced disaster casualty loss tax relief. This bill modifies the deduction for personal casualty losses in the hurricane disaster areas, waiving the requirements for impacted taxpayers to itemize deductions and to have losses that exceed 10% of adjusted gross income. Congress previously extended this tax relief for hurricanes Irma, Wilma, Dorian, and Michael, among others.
• Commit necessary funds and resources to Florida’s military installations to fully rebuild and recover from hurricane damage.

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