{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2024/10/sens-rick-scott-marco-rubio-florida-delegation-support-expedited-major-disaster-declaration-for-milton", "Sens. Rick Scott, Marco Rubio & Florida Delegation Support Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Milton", "2024-10-11", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "Senate", "FL", "Rick Scott", "S001217", "www.rickscott.senate.gov", "rickscott", "https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/press-releases/", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Senator Rick Scott joined Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Vern Buchanan and all members of the Florida delegation to send a bipartisan, bicameral letter to President Joe Biden urging him to promptly approve the State of Florida\u2019s Expedited Major Disaster Declaration request following Hurricane Milton\u2019s catastrophic landfall and support Florida\u2019s response and recovery efforts.\n\nAdditionally, Senator Scott has been traveling to impacted parts of Florida, including Sarasota, Hillsborough, Lee and Charlotte counties, to survey damage and receive briefings from local officials.\n\nThe members wrote, \u201cGiven the severity of the storm, as evidenced by the at least 16 reported deaths and still untold damages wrought by Hurricane Milton on peoples\u2019 homes, businesses and livelihoods, we urge your immediate consideration of a Major Disaster Declaration\u2026. The full support of the federal government is critical in helping save lives and getting our communities and constituents back on their feet.\u201d\n\nRead the full letter HERE or below.\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis\u2019 request for an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for the state of Florida as a result of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall near Siesta Key on October 9th as a powerful Category 3 hurricane.\n\nAs you are undoubtedly aware, Florida has experienced three hurricanes in as many months \u2013 two of which have been major hurricanes \u2013 causing significant damage across much of the state. In fact, Hurricane Milton made landfall on parts of Florida\u2019s coastline that had already suffered from unprecedented storm surge from Hurricane Helene and claimed the lives of 25 Floridians just two weeks ago. Furthermore, dozens of tornadoes were reported on the east and west coasts of the state from the outer bands of Hurricane Milton, destroying an estimated 150 homes and leading to numerous fatalities.\n\nGiven the severity of the storm, as evidenced by the at least 16 reported deaths and still untold damages wrought by Hurricane Milton on peoples\u2019 homes, businesses and livelihoods, we urge your immediate consideration of a Major Disaster Declaration, which would provide essential federal resources to help our state respond and recover to the catastrophic damages caused by this devastating storm. The full support of the federal government is critical in helping save lives and getting our communities and constituents back on their feet.\n\nWe thank you for your consideration of Governor DeSantis\u2019 request and look forward to your expeditious response to this critically important issue.\n\nSincerely,\n\nMORE\u2026\n\nAhead of Milton\u2019s landfall, Senator Scott has had daily calls with the NHC to receive the latest updates on Hurricane Milton and traveled along Florida\u2019s 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 been in constant contact with state leaders, mayors, sheriffs andpolice chiefs, emergency management officials and energy companies in communities throughout the state that were expecting impacts from Hurricane Milton to ensure they have the needed resources to respond to the storm. 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.\n\nThis week, Senators Scott and Marco Rubio have written letters to President Joe Biden in support of the State of Florida\u2019s and the Seminole Tribe of Florida\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s economy and ensure a swift recovery.\n\nSenator Scott encourages all Floridians to visit his website at www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact/caseworkfor information or help with federal agencies like FEMA and the SBA, following Hurricanes Milton and Helene. For more on response efforts from the Florida Division of Emergency Management at floridadisaster.org or @FLSERT.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"]], "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.rickscott.senate.gov/2024/10/sens-rick-scott-marco-rubio-florida-delegation-support-expedited-major-disaster-declaration-for-milton"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8219259325414896, "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"}