{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-warren-reps-lynch-keating-pressley-auchincloss-demand-trump-administration-reverse-denial-of-massachusetts-disaster-request-for-february-blizzard", "Sens. Markey, Warren, Reps. Lynch, Keating, Pressley, Auchincloss Demand Trump Administration Reverse Denial of Massachusetts Disaster Request for February Blizzard", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MA", "Edward J. Markey", "M000133", "www.markey.senate.gov", "markey", "https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Letter Text (PDF)\n\nWashington (August 3, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Bill Keating (MA-09), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Jake Auchincloss (MA-04) sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Acting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Robert Fenton demanding that the Administration rescind its denial of Massachusetts\u2019 request for a major disaster declaration following the February 2026 blizzard. The storm overwhelmed the Commonwealth with more than three feet of snow, caused an estimated $38 billion in damage and economic losses, cost the Commonwealth more than $45 million in direct expenses, and endangered communities. The lawmakers pressed the Administration to reverse course and approve the Commonwealth\u2019s appeal, which was filed on Friday, to ensure that Massachusetts communities receive much-needed relief as they continue to struggle under the weight of snow-related expenses.\n\nOn July 2, 2026, Massachusetts was notified that the Trump administration denied the Commonwealth\u2019s major disaster declaration request to help fund expenses related to the historic blizzard that hit the state last February. FEMA\u2019s stated rationale for the denial appears to disregard federal law. On July 31, Governor Healey filed a formal appeal in response. Recent reporting suggests that Trump personally denied Massachusetts\u2019 request as part of the overall politicization of disaster declaration requests, despite FEMA\u2019s determination that the blizzard met major disaster requirements.\n\nThe lawmakers wrote, \u201cIf FEMA\u2019s initial denial was based on an attempt to reinterpret or narrow the definition of a major disaster, we urge FEMA to comply with the Stafford Act and reverse course. However, if the denial was influenced by partisan political considerations, we must insist on a full reconsideration of this decision to restore parity in the federal disaster response process. Accordingly, and given the profound impacts Massachusetts experienced and the clear eligibility for assistance under the Stafford Act, we also request that you approve Governor Healey\u2019s appeal of the Commonwealth\u2019s major disaster declaration following the February 2026 blizzard.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-markey-warren-reps-lynch-keating-pressley-auchincloss-demand-trump-administration-reverse-denial-of-massachusetts-disaster-request-for-february-blizzard"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.8846682980656624, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}