{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/2026/06/29/slotkin-peters-walberg-and-huizenga-urge-president-trump-to-reconsider-denial-of-major-disaster-declaration-for-southwest-michigan-communities-impacted-by-deadly-tornadoes/", "Slotkin,\u00a0Peters,\u00a0Walberg\u00a0and\u00a0Huizenga Urge President Trump to Reconsider Denial of Major Disaster Declaration for Southwest Michigan Communities Impacted by Deadly Tornadoes", "2026-06-29", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Elissa Slotkin", "S001208", "www.slotkin.senate.gov", "slotkin", "https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/newsroom/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI), both members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, along with U.S. Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI-05) and Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04), urged President Trump to reconsider his denial of a Major Disaster declaration for Southwest Michigan following deadly tornadoes that struck the region on March 6, 2026.\n\nIn their letter, the lawmakers supported Governor Gretchen Whitmer\u2019s appeal and called for two program activations \u2013\u2013 the Individual Assistance program for Branch, Cass, and St. Joseph Counties, as well as the activation of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program statewide.\n\n\u201cWe write in support of Governor Whitmer\u2019s June 23, 2026, appeal to the denial of the Major Disaster declaration request in response to tornadoes in Southwest Michigan on March 6, 2026,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\u201cTragically, the tornadoes resulted in the loss of four lives. In addition, the four tornadoes, ranging from EF-0 to EF-3, destroyed critical infrastructure, destroyed homes, displaced residents, and left considerable debris.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the lawmakers noted that while state and local governments, volunteer groups, and first responders worked quickly to support survivors, Michigan\u2019s response and recovery capabilities have been overburdened by multiple recent disasters. In April, Slotkin and Peters urged President Trump to declare a Major Disaster for Southwest Michigan in response to the March tornados. Michigan has also experienced severe storms and flooding that caused damage across 42 counties in April.\n\n\u201cThe degree of this disaster, coupled with multiple other recent disasters in Michigan, has surpassed the capabilities of the state and local governments,\u201d continued the lawmakers. \u201cTherefore, we respectfully ask you to reconsider the denial of a major disaster declaration to these communities in Michigan, and to approve this assistance to provide Michigan residents the necessary support to recover from this devastating and fatal disaster.\u201d\n\n\u201cWithout federal assistance, this lack of insurance may force residents to occupy unsafe alternatives,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cThe survivors residing in the area need federal assistance to fully recover.\u201d\n\nRead the lawmakers\u2019 full letter here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-30T06:29:10Z", "2026-06-30T06:30:42Z"]], "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.slotkin.senate.gov/2026/06/29/slotkin-peters-walberg-and-huizenga-urge-president-trump-to-reconsider-denial-of-major-disaster-declaration-for-southwest-michigan-communities-impacted-by-deadly-tornadoes/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8750753477215767, "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"}