Opinion: Washington: Don't play politics with disaster aid

During the past year, Missouri and the nation have faced numerous natural disasters that devastated entire communities and livelihoods. As we work to rebuild in the aftermath of those disasters, the scope of these events has placed unusual logistical and financial pressures on our nation’s funding, response and rebuilding efforts.

Missourians have withstood flooding and tornadoes – the most deadly of which struck in Joplin, where the tornado stayed on the ground for six miles and destroyed approximately 30 percent of the buildings in a town of 50,000 people. More than 8,000 homes and apartments were destroyed in Joplin and more than 500 commercial properties were demolished by this devastating tornado. …

Such challenges require federal assistance. I believe the federal government’s response has been satisfactory in Missouri, but there is still work to be done. … It is essential that we have accurate and honest assessments of our disaster needs. With record debt and high unemployment, we have a responsibility to make sure Washington is spending taxpayer dollars effectively.

Unfortunately, as a result of the recent disaster debate over how best to pay for Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund, I am concerned that these determinations may have recently been made based on political factors rather than need-based analyses. … I support finding ways to cut duplication and spending, but my top priority is ensuring that we implement the fastest way to get federal aid to the people of Missouri who need disaster assistance beyond the ability of communities or the state. … We must work to provide communities with short-term and long-term recovery and disaster mitigation, which is why I recently introduced an amendment that was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee to add $400 million to community development block grants – funding that picks up where FEMA leaves off.

Americans are tired of the gridlock and games in Washington – and so am I. Washington should not play partisan politics with this disaster money, while communities in Missouri have real needs, and I’m concerned that the process we’re using to fund our nation’s disaster recovery efforts is simply broken. Right now, Missourians are resiliently rebuilding their homes, businesses, schools and communities in the face of these recent disasters. And I am committed to working to make sure our federal government fulfills its promise to the communities that need help to rebuild and move forward.

—Roy Blunt, U.S. Senator