As the nation pauses this weekend to honor the brave men and women who served in our nation’s Armed Forces, U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today filed legislation to ensure some of our most severely disabled veterans have access to the health care they need.
The legislation, known as the FAIR Heroes Act, would make disabled veterans who were medically retired from the military eligible for both Medicare Part B and TRICARE, a health care program for retired veterans and their families, and allow them to choose which health plan works best for them.
Under current law, severely disabled veterans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, or SSDI, for two or more years don’t have a choice. They are required, by law, to purchase Medicare Part B coverage – and, in some cases, maintain that coverage even if they return to work.
By giving these veterans the choice to enroll in TRICARE instead of the more costly Medicare Part B program, the lawmakers’ bill could save many veterans up to $1,300 a year.
“These brave men and women are American heroes,” Nelson said. “They have made tremendous sacrifices in service to their country and making sure they have access to the health care that best fits their needs is the least we can do.”
If these medically retired veterans fail to immediately purchase Medicare Part B coverage when they become eligible, or fail to maintain that coverage for at least eight years after returning to work, they are forced to pay a late enrollment fee and higher premiums if they try to enroll in Medicare later in life.
For some disabled veterans, the late-enrollment penalty and higher premiums make Medicare coverage unaffordable.
Nelson and Blumenthal’s legislation seeks to change that, not only by giving these disabled veterans the option to enroll in TRICARE instead, but also by eliminating the eight-year Medicare requirement and late-enrollment penalties for those who were medically retired from the military.
The legislation has been endorsed by several veterans organizations including the Wounded Warriors Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Got Your 6, Association of the U.S. Army and the National Military Family Association.
A copy of the legislation is available here.
Senator Bill Nelson
Nelson calls on feds to step in over state's handling of unemployment website
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who has heard from several constituents unable to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance using the state of Florida’s unemployment website, sent a letter today to Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta urging his agency to step in and provide the technical support necessary to fix the problems before it’s too late for Floridians to apply.
The U.S. Dept. of Labor last week extended the deadline for Floridians who lost wages as a result of Hurricane Irma to apply for disaster-related unemployment benefits. Yet, despite the extension, many eligible Floridians say they have been unable to apply for the program because of problems with the state’s unemployment website.
“An extension is pointless if the current process is not corrected to facilitate the proper management of the program.” Nelson wrote. “I urge your Department to provide Florida with the necessary assistance to address the current factors obstructing individuals’ ability to claim DUA.”
The eligibility requirements for disaster-unemployment benefits are different than those for regular unemployment benefits. For example, unlike regular unemployment benefits, eligibility for disaster-unemployment benefits does not necessarily require that the individual have a substantial work history.
Applicants say that when they answer a question that would normally disqualify them for regular unemployment benefits – but not disaster unemployment benefits – the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s website rejects their application.
After being rejected from the system, applicants are left only one option: spending multiple hours on the phone with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s help desk to try to get it resolved.
The deadline to apply for disaster assistance in Florida is Nov. 14.
Workers eligible for the benefits include:
- the self-employed;
- workers who experience a “week of unemployment” following the date the major disaster began when such unemployment is a direct result of the major disaster;
- workers unable to reach the place of employment as a direct result of the major disaster;
- workers who were to begin employment and do not have a job or are unable to reach the job as a direct result of the major disaster;
- individuals who have become the breadwinner or major support for a household because the head of the household has died as a direct result of the major disaster; and
- workers who cannot work because of injuries caused as a direct result of the major disaster.
Following is text of Nelson’s letter to Labor Secretary Acosta, a pdf copy is available here.
November 6, 2017
The Honorable R. Alexander Acosta
Secretary
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20210
Dear Secretary Acosta:
I’m writing to thank you for extending the deadline for individuals to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) after Hurricane Irma. The extension is necessary to allow individuals an adequate amount of time to apply for this much needed program. However, I’ve heard from constituents encountering numerous difficulties due to how the program is being administered by the state of Florida. I urge the Department of Labor to provide technical assistance to ensure procedural barriers aren’t hindering access to DUA.
Parts of Florida weathered significant damage after the storm – the full extent of which is still unfolding. Despite this, I’ve heard multiple accounts of Floridians facing difficulties when trying to apply for DUA. They are getting kicked out of the online application system because they are not eligible for traditional unemployment insurance, despite being eligible for DUA. When they call a representative for help, it can take hours on the phone to properly complete the application. An extension is pointless if the current process is not corrected to facilitate the proper management of the program. I urge your Department to provide Florida with the necessary assistance to address the current factors obstructing individuals’ ability to claim DUA.
Thank you for your attention to this important request. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Nelson calls on Senate committee to expand investigation into nursing home deaths
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) today asked the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to broaden its ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 14 seniors who were at a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida during Hurricane Irma, to consider additional concerns raised this week over the state’s treatment of people with disabilities during and after the storm.
Florida emergency management officials came under fire this week over the state’s alleged discrimination against people with disabilities during and after the disaster.
In a letter sent to state officials Wednesday, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties outlined several concerns recently brought to the agency’s attention, including:
- The use of unqualified sign language interpreters
- Lack of discharge planning for people leaving emergency shelters
- The evacuation of persons with disabilities
- Planning for evacuation of elderly/individuals with disabilities living in high rise buildings
DHS went on to “remind” the state of Florida that it has a legal obligation not to discriminate on the basis of disability.
“[We] would like to remind the State of Florida of its obligations to carry out its federally assisted activities in a manner that is consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 … [which] prohibits discrimination based on disability,” the agency wrote.
The agency put the state on notice that it plans to continue to monitor the situation, saying, “[DHS] will likely to make arrangements in coming months to get feedback from residents regarding challenges faced by those with access and functional needs during the recent hurricane.”
The text of Nelson’s letter to the committee is below, and a pdf copy is available here.
A copy of DHS’s letter to the state is available here.
November 3, 2017
The Honorable Orrin Hatch
Chairman
Senate Committee on Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Ron Wyden
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Finance
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Hatch and Ranking Member Wyden:
I’m writing in regards to the committee’s ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 14 seniors who were at a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida during Hurricane Irma.
Enclosed you will find a letter that the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security’s Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties sent to the Florida Department of Emergency Management Wednesday outlining several concerns brought to the agency’s attention regarding the state’s treatment of people with disabilities during and after the storm.
The concerns outlined in this letter are extremely disturbing, and I ask that they be included in the committee’s ongoing investigation.
Sincerely,
Nelson files bill to make more affordable housing available for storm evacuees
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) has filed legislation aimed at making more affordable housing available for evacuees of Hurricane Maria.
The legislation Nelson filed Thursday would, among other things, provide additional funding for HUD’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. The voucher program makes market-rate housing more affordable for low-income evacuees by capping rental rates at no more than 30 percent of an individual’s income.
“We have tens of thousands of evacuees here in Florida who are struggling to find an affordable place to live,” Nelson said. “This bill will help make more affordable housing available in the communities that need it the most.”
To qualify, evacuees must earn less than 50 percent of the area’s median income. Evacuees in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, for example, who earn less than $29,200 per year would be eligible for the program.
Once approved, voucher holders are able to select a unit from the private market. But instead of having to pay that units full market price, which many cannot afford, voucher holders pay only 30 percent of their adjusted income towards rent and utilities, and the federal government pays any remaining balance directly to the property owner.
The bill has already received endorsements from several local officials, including: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Osceola County Commissioner Fred Hawkins and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava.
The measure now heads to the Senate Finance committee for consideration.
A copy of the bill is available here.
Nelson says Trump’s pick for NASA chief ‘too divisive’ for the job
“NASA needs leaders who will unite us, not divide us,”
the Florida Democrat says
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee which oversees the nation’s space program, says President Trump’s pick to lead NASA is too “divisive and extreme” to head the nonpartisan agency.
“The NASA administrator should be a consummate space professional,” Nelson said during his opening remarks at today’s Commerce Committee hearing to consider Rep. Jim Bridenstine’s (R-OK) nomination to be the next administrator of NASA. “More importantly, the administrator must be a leader who has the ability to unite scientists, engineers, commercial space interests, policymakers, the Congress and the public on a shared vision for future space exploration.”
Nelson, who flew on the space shuttle and is widely viewed as a congressional expert on space matters, said Bridenstine’s past partisan behavior makes him unfit to lead the agency.
“NASA is not political,” Nelson said. “The leader of NASA should not be political. When [NASA] has been partisan in the past, we’ve had disasters.”
Nelson pointed to several highly-partisan comments Bridenstine has made recently criticizing both Democratic and Republican members of Congress for their efforts to work across the political aisle – including a television ad the Oklahoma Republican made attacking Nelson’s Florida colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio, for his efforts to seek bipartisan consensus on immigration.
Nelson called Bridenstine’s record and behavior in Congress “as divisive and extreme as any in Washington.”
“Congressman,” Nelson said, “on behalf of every member who has devoted their career to reaching across the aisle to build consensus and to find working solutions for the American people, I want you to know that his senator is quite skeptical and I take offense to that kind of quote – that ‘we need fighters, not people coming together.’ … That line of thinking is why Washington is broken.”
“NASA represents the best of what we can do as a people,” Nelson continued. “NASA is one of the last refuges from partisan politics. And when it has gotten partisan in the past, we have gotten in trouble. NASA needs a leader who will unite us, not divide us. Respectfully, Congressman Bridenstine, I think you’ve got a long way to go to prove to be that leader.”
Nelson says FEMA wait times 'unacceptable'
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), in remarks on the Senate floor, said today that it is “unacceptable” that Floridians are having to wait up to four hours to speak to a FEMA representative about housing assistance.
“It’s been two months since hurricane Irma hit Florida,” Nelson said, “and our people are still hurting because they don’t have sufficient housing.”
“FEMA – through Individual Assistance – is supposed to provide temporary housing,” Nelson continued. “This is the law. That’s what the people of Florida are entitled to … but it’s not happening in Florida. Why? Because they get on the telephone and they have to wait up to four hours to get somebody on the phone from FEMA.”
“That is just unacceptable,” Nelson said. “It’s got to be changed. And, thus, you see the bipartisan effort on behalf of my colleague from Florida, Marco Rubio, and I writing to the head of FEMA today and saying: look, what happened even under the debacle years ago of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, there they experienced an average wait time of ten minutes before they could get FEMA on to the line to help them. Now, we have people waiting as much as four hours.”
Nelson and Rubio sent a letter today to FEMA Administrator Brock Long to raise concerns about the amount of time Floridians are being forced to wait for assistance.
Noting that Floridians are facing longer wait times than victims of previous disasters, the lawmakers cited a March 2006 report by the Dept. of Homeland Security’s Inspector General that found victims of Hurricane Katrina experienced an average wait time of 10 minutes before speaking with an agent by phone, and approximately 10 days for a home inspection.
“We recognize and appreciate the 4,000 inspectors in the field working tirelessly to help people in need of housing assistance,” the senators wrote. “However, the current wait times must be improved.”
The text of the senators’ letter to FEMA is available here.
Video of Nelson’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here: https://youtu.be/bgKIhJAhkYc
And here’s a rush transcript of his speech:
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson
Remarks on the Senate floor
October 31, 2017
Sen. Nelson: Thank you, Mr. President. You know, it’s been two months since Hurricane Irma hit Florida and basically covered up the state and our people are still hurting because they don’t have sufficient housing.
If you lived in a mobile home, if you lived in a low- lying area, your home was destroyed. It is uninhabitable, the ceiling is collapsing, the mold and mildew, because of being all the water in, has now accumulated. It is an uninhabitable home.
And FEMA, through Individual Assistance, is supposed to provide temporary housing. This is the law. That’s what the people of Florida are entitled to just like the people of Texas are entitled to in the presiding officer’s state.
But it’s not happening in Florida. Why? Because they get on the telephone and they have to wait up to, documented, four hours to get somebody on the phone from FEM. Or it takes home inspection 45 days before they can get an inspector to come out and see the home before they can be declared and be eligible for Individual Assistance.
And that is just unacceptable. Because if they don’t have the means, especially if they don’t have a job as a result of the jobs being destroyed in the hurricane, where are they going to be able to get temporary assistance for housing?
This is a fact that is happening in the state of Florida and it’s got to be changed. And, thus, you see the bipartisan effort on behalf of my colleague from Florida, Marco Rubio, and I writing to the head of FEMA today and saying, look, what happened even under the debacle years ago of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, there they experienced an average wait time of ten minutes before they could get FEMA on to the line to help them. Now we have people waiting as much as four hours.
And so, Mr. President, I wanted to bring this to the attention of the Senate. We cannot have the aftermath of a hurricane, two months after, where our people are hurting, they are suffering. They can’t live in a healthy condition in the existing homes that have been destroyed in the hurricane.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
Nelson, Rubio raise concerns over FEMA wait times
U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter today to FEMA Administrator Brock Long raising concerns over the amount of time Floridians are being forced to wait for housing assistance.
“Individuals calling FEMA’s help line have waited up to four hours before speaking with a representative,” the senators wrote. “Additionally, FEMA’s current estimates are approximately 45 days for a home inspection, a required step for Individual Assistance claims to be paid out.”
The lawmakers cited a March 2006 report by the Dept. of Homeland Security’s Inspector General that found victims of Hurricane Katrina experienced an average wait time of 10 minutes before speaking with an agent by phone, and approximately 10 days for a home inspection.
“We recognize and appreciate the 4,000 inspectors in the field working tirelessly to help people in need of housing assistance,” the senators said. “However, the current wait times must be improved.”
Following is text of the senators’ letter sent to FEMA Administrator Brock Long, a pdf copy is available here.
October 31, 2017
The Honorable Brock Long
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20472
Dear Administrator Long:
We write to express our concern about the lack of available housing options in Florida following Hurricane Irma. It is critical that displaced Floridians in affected counties are provided with the ability to access rental housing.
Tens of thousands of homes in Florida were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Reports have indicated thousands of Floridians are waiting for housing units to arrive and be filled, and many are living in uninhabitable circumstances with collapsed ceilings and mold. These are not sustainable living conditions, and could lead to negative health consequences or personal injury. While we recognize manufactured housing may not be appropriate for every situation, it seems there are serious delays in direct leasing options as well. Thus, we urge you to work expeditiously with Florida communities to ensure that Floridians have safe and sustainable housing options in the coming months.
It is also our understanding that Florida residents have had issues with the FEMA help line in obtaining assistance. Some reports state individuals calling FEMA’s help line have waited up to four hours before speaking with a representative. Additionally, FEMA’s current estimates are approximately 45 days for a home inspection, a required step for Individual Assistance claims to be paid out. This means families face a long wait before receiving funding for housing needs, such as housing repair, replacement or construction. The wait times for FEMA phone assistance and home inspections appear to be longer than those experienced by individuals during past major disasters. A March 2006 report conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General found Hurricane Katrina applicants experienced an average wait time of ten minutes before speaking with an agent. The report also stated FEMA has historically completed home inspections within 10 days.
We recognize and appreciate the 4,000 inspectors in the field working tirelessly to help people in need of housing assistance. However, the current wait times must be improved. Therefore, we ask that you work with Florida communities to ensure that displaced storm victims have adequate housing options available to them while they rebuild and repair their homes, and address any outstanding issues with FEMA’s help line that have led to delays with assistance.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Nelson: ‘Defending America isn’t a partisan issue’
“Defending America isn’t a partisan issue,” U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) said today while speaking on the Senate floor about the charges filed in connection with U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s interference with the 2016 election.
“These are very serious charges,” Nelson said. “Yet, sadly, the response to these indictments has been seemingly split along partisan lines. That doesn’t make sense.”
“Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in our election and, in so doing, he has attacked the very foundation of our constitutional democracy,” Nelson said. “It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican, it should be clear: if you help an enemy of the United States meddle in our Democracy, you will be held accountable!”
Nelson said too often lawmakers and the country as a whole find themselves divided on an issue because of party politics, but said that shouldn’t be the case here.
“There should be no disagreement when it comes to protecting America,” he said. “Finding out what happened is the only way we’re going to be able to prevent this from happening again.”
Below is a rush transcript of his remarks:
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson
Remarks on the Senate floor
October 30, 2017
Mr. President,
Everybody now in Washington knows that the special counsel announced charges against two of President Trump’s former campaign aides in connection with the ongoing investigation into whether or not Russia interfered with the 2016 election.
We know now after painstaking investigations in the intelligence community that, in fact, Russia did interfere in the election, and what many of us = are concerned about, since they have continued this pattern in other countries’ elections, we are concerned about the fact that they will interfere in the next elections coming up.
We’ve already seen attempts in this special election down in Alabama that they have bene trying to increase the number of hits going to a Facebook or Twitter account.
So they interfered.
Well, we learned also this morning that a third former Trump aide has pled guilty to lying to the FBI in January when he was asked about his interactions with Russians while he was with the Trump campaign.
Mr. President, these are very serious charges, and we should be united against any individual who helped further Russia’s interference in our elections.
Yet, sadly, the response to these indictments has been seemingly split along partisan lines. That doesn’t make sense. Defending America isn’t a partisan issue.
In fact, everyone in this Senate – all of our Democrats, Republicans, our two Independents — they have sworn an oath to do exactly that: to defend the constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic.
Charging these individuals shouldn’t be seen as a victory for one party, or a defeat for the other.
These individuals are charged with crimes against the U.S. – crimes against all of us Americans.
And the fact is: Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in our election and, in so doing, attacked the very foundation of our constitutional democracy.
We know that. We also know that we’re not the only country that he has attacked and, according to U.S. intelligence community, he will continue this type of behavior unless he is stopped.
And that’s why we have such a heavy responsibility to defend America from these types of attacks. And to defend our American constitutional foundations built on a process of free and fair and unfettered elections.
It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican, it should be clear: if you help an enemy of the United States meddle in our Democracy, you will be held accountable.
Too often, here in this Senate and throughout the country as a whole, we find ourselves suddenly divided on issues because of party politics, but that shouldn’t be the case. There should be no disagreement when it comes to protecting America. Because we should be Americans first, not Democrats or Republicans first. We should be Americans first.
We must continue to be patient with the Mueller investigation, and allow it to follow the facts wherever they may lead.
Because finding out what happened is the only way we’re going to be able to prevent this from happening again – and it’s the only way that we’re going to be able to keep our country safe.
Madam President, I yield the floor.
Nelson files bill to avert Medicaid crisis in Puerto Rico
In wake of one of the most devastating disasters to hit Puerto Rico, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) filed legislation Thursday to prevent Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program from running out of money.
As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico receives only a fraction of the money states get for its Medicaid program. Instead of providing the island with an open-ended amount of funding as states get, Congress provided Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories with a set amount of money, which could soon run out if lawmakers fail to act.
With nearly half of Puerto Rico’s 3.5 million residents on Medicaid, allowing the island’s Medicaid funding to run dry would result in hundreds of thousands of people losing access to much-needed health care.
To prevent the looming Medicaid-funding crisis, also known as the Medicaid-funding cliff, Nelson filed legislation today along with U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) that would eliminate the current cap on Medicaid funding and instead provide Puerto Rico access to the same open-ended funding system the states get.
“The people of Puerto Rico need our help,” Nelson said. “As we work to help them recover and rebuild in the aftermath of this devastating disaster, we also have to look toward the future and help them avert what could be a serious health care crisis if nothing is done.”
In addition to helping Puerto Rico avert a potential health care crisis, Nelson’s legislation would also make some of Puerto Rico’s low-income seniors eligible for federal subsidies to help them cover the cost of their prescription drug costs.
The legislation now heads to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.
A copy of the bill is available here.
Lawmakers call on FEMA to provide housing assistance for evacuees
Florida lawmakers, led by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), are calling on FEMA to quickly approve the governor of Puerto Rico’s request for additional assistance to help provide temporary housing for evacuees in Florida and elsewhere.
Nelson, in a letter he sent today with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and others, urged FEMA Administrator Brock Long to approve Puerto Rico’s request for Transitional Shelter Assistance, or TSA, a FEMA program designed to provide short-term lodging to individuals and families whose homes are uninhabitable following a natural disaster.
“The TSA program provides short-term lodging for individuals and families who are unable to return to their homes,” the lawmakers wrote. “With more than 3.5 million individuals affected by this storm, approving Puerto Rico’s request for TSA will provide desperately needed living accommodations for affected Puerto Rican families.”
FEMA’s TSA program makes direct payments to participating hotels and motels to provide temporary housing for evacuees.
If authorized, evacuees in Florida and elsewhere will be eligible to use the program to stay in a hotel or motel for a limited time and have the costs covered by FEMA.
According to the state of Florida, more than 73,000 evacuees from Puerto Rico have already arrived in Florida since October 3rd, many of whom have no ties to the area and are unable to afford housing.
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello requested Transitional Shelter Assistance for evacuees on Oct. 25.
In addition to Nelson and Rubio, the letter urging FEMA to quickly approve that request was also signed by Reps. Kathy Castor (D-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Val Demings (D-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Al Lawson (D-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).
Following is the text of the lawmakers’ letter, and a PDF copy is available here:
October 26, 2017
The Honorable Brock Long
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
Dear Administrator Long:
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, we write in full support of Puerto Rico’s request for assistance under the Transitional Shelter Assistance (TSA) program. It is critical that we provide Puerto Ricans with essential lodging assistance during the recovery process.
The TSA program provides short-term lodging for individuals and families who are unable to return to their homes for an extended period due to a natural disaster, such as a hurricane. With more than 3.5 million individuals affected by this storm, approving Puerto Rico’s request for TSA will provide desperately needed living accommodations for affected Puerto Rican families.
Unfortunately, it will be months before we fully realize the devastation Hurricane Maria has caused to Puerto Rico. While families seek stability and safety in the aftermath of this storm, we request swift approval of this invaluable program.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
