DOVER, Fla. – Today, Senator Rick Scott was in Polk and Hillsborough County to hear from Florida’s growers, ranchers and agricultural leaders regarding recovery and response efforts following major Hurricanes Helene and Milton and reinforce his commitment to having the federal government show up for the community. Senator Scott was joined by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Florida State Senator Jay Collins, Florida State Senator Danny Burgess, Florida State Representative Lawrence McClure, Plant City Mayor Nathan Kilton, Plant City Vice-Mayor Jason Jones, Hillsborough County Commissioner Christine Miller, Hillsborough County Commissioner Josh Wostal, Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) Executive Director Kenneth Parker, President of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Mike Joyner, and Strawberry Ranch owner Adam Young.

Senator Scott is leading the call for Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to fund disaster relief. Additionally, following Hurricane Helene, Senator Scott led a bipartisan group of his Florida delegation colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack supporting the State of Florida’s request to issue a Disaster Declaration for Florida’s counties that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Senator Scott and his colleagues are also urging the secretary to make assistance available immediately in the form of state block grants to expedite support for Florida’s farmers and agricultural producers as they recover from the destructive impacts of the storms, and recently spoke with President Biden and USDA Secretary Vilsack on this immediate need. Read more HERE.

Senator Rick Scott said, “Our farmers, ranchers and growers are the backbone of Florida—they work around the clock every single day to ensure families in the Sunshine State and around the country have what they need. It’s clear that the federal government’s response to hurricanes over the last two years has left too many Floridians, especially our farmers, hurting and with unmet needs. Since Hurricane Ian hit our state in 2022, Florida’s farmers, ranchers and growers have been doing the miraculous work of getting by with less because the federal government has failed to show up in their time of need. I’ve spoken to President Biden and USDA Secretary Vilsack multiple times about this and why the administration needs to take action now to approve USDA block grants for our farmers and tell Senate Democrats to stop blocking this aid. This week, I announced legislation to provide $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, and I am demanding that Majority Leader Schumer bring back the Senate as soon as possible to fully fund other disaster relief functions at the SBA and USDA block grants. I’m glad that in my conversations with President Biden, he has completely agreed with me on the need to get this done, but now we must see action. Floridians are strong. We will recover and I will be there every step of the way to make sure Washington works for you.”

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Yesterday, following Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton causing catastrophic damage across multiple states, Senator Scott, Senator Marco Rubio and their colleagues announced legislation to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). The FEMA DRF assists individuals, households, states, and non-federal government entities with recovery following natural disasters, yet is quickly dwindling. Specifically, this bill would appropriate $20 billion to the DRF to help states recover. Read more HERE.

In preparation for and response to Hurricane Milton, Senator Scott has been in constant contact with state leaders, mayors, sheriffs and police chiefs, emergency management officials and energy companies in communities throughout the state, and has visited St. Lucie, Volusia, Lake, Pinellas, Sarasota, Hillsborough, Lee, Charlotte and Manatee counties to survey damage and receive briefings from local officials. On Sunday, Senator Scott met with President Joe Biden and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to receive a briefing on the response to Hurricane Milton and ongoing rescue and recovery missions and discuss communities’ needs as they begin their recovery.

Ahead of Milton’s landfall, Senator Scott has had daily calls with the NHC to receive the latest updates on Hurricane Milton and traveled along Florida’s Gulf Coast to receive briefings from sheriffs, local law enforcement leaders and emergency management officials in Hillsborough County, Sarasota County and Lee County, urging families to stay safe and prepared. Senator Scott has also spoken and written to federal officials, including FEMA Region 4 Administrator Robert Samaan and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to ensure Florida has much-needed access to federal resources.

Senators Scott and Rubio have written letters to President Biden in support of the State of Florida’s and the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s requests for pre-landfall emergency declarations ahead of Hurricane Milton. Both requests were approved by President Biden following his receipt of Senators Scott and Rubio’s letters. Senators Scott and Rubio also sent a letter to President Biden urging the direction of federal agencies to expedite plans to respond to potential obstructions at the Port of Tampa Bay, which receives more than 40 percent of Florida’s petroleum products. In their letter, the senators emphasized that this action by the federal government is crucial to expedite all requested measures to protect Florida’s economy and ensure a swift recovery. 

Senator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/casework for information or help with federal agencies like FEMA and the SBA, following Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Find more on response efforts from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.

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