{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.smith.senate.gov/smith-klobuchar-finstad-urge-trump-administration-to-approve-minnesotas-request-for-disaster-declaration/", "Smith, Klobuchar, Finstad Urge Trump Administration to Approve Minnesota\u2019s Request for Disaster Declaration", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Tina Smith", "S001203", "www.smith.senate.gov", "tinasmith", "https://www.smith.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) and U.S. Representative Brad Finstad (R-MN) urged the Trump Administration to approve Minnesota\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities in southeastern Minnesota that are working to recover from severe weather and flooding. If this disaster declaration is approved, the federal government will be able to provide disaster assistance for various recovery efforts.\n\n\u201cWe write to you in strong support of the state of Minnesota\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance under the Stafford Act to assist our constituents recovering from severe storms and flash flooding. These natural disasters have caused significant damage, and we ask that you quickly grant approval for federal disaster assistance,\u201d said the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \u201cTime and time again, Minnesotans have stepped up to support their neighbors after natural disasters. When flood waters rise and homes are damaged, volunteers and neighbors are quick to fill sandbags, clean up debris, and lend a hand to those in need. Impacted communities will repair the damage and rebuild following these disasters, but rapid federal assistance will speed up this recovery effort. We strongly support Minnesota\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance and ask that you grant its approval without delay.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nWe write to you in strong support of the state of Minnesota\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance under the Stafford Act to assist our constituents recovering from severe storms and flash flooding. These natural disasters have caused significant damage, and we ask that you quickly grant approval for federal disaster assistance.\n\nIn early July, southeastern Minnesota experienced severe weather events that caused flooding across the region. Heavy precipitation qualified as a rare \u201cmega-rain\u201d in some areas, with approximately 75 percent of Fillmore County and more than half of Houston County receiving more than 6 inches of rain. The severe storms and resulting flooding caused significant damage to homes in the affected area. Each home that received major damage had a submerged furnace or boiler, many of which will need repair or replacement ahead of Minnesota\u2019s fall and winter seasons. Some homes have been condemned or determined to be uninhabitable due to structural issues resulting from the disaster.\n\nJoint federal and state emergency management teams have conducted preliminary damage assessments and have determined that the losses meet the threshold for federal assistance under the Stafford Act through a Major Disaster Declaration. Governor Walz has submitted an official request for disaster assistance for the period of July 2 to July 8, 2026. The request, dated August 21, 2026, covers Fillmore, Houston, and MowerCounties.\n\nTime and time again, Minnesotans have stepped up to support their neighbors after natural disasters. When flood waters rise and homes are damaged, volunteers and neighbors are quick to fill sandbags, clean up debris, and lend a hand to those in need. Impacted communities will repair the damage and rebuild following these disasters, but rapid federal assistance will speed up this recovery effort.\n\nWe strongly support Minnesota\u2019s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance and ask that you grant its approval without delay.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"]], "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.smith.senate.gov/smith-klobuchar-finstad-urge-trump-administration-to-approve-minnesotas-request-for-disaster-declaration/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.485534943640232, "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"}