October 6, 2024 Dear Floridian: 51 counties, including Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee, are under a state of emergency ahead of Milton’s expected landfall on the west coast of Florida this week. I know there is great concern about debris removal from Helene. My office is working on this and in contact with the state, our cities, and our counties to get as much debris as possible picked up before this next storm. Now is the time to prepare your household and check on your neighbors. Visit my website for a disaster checklist , make a plan , and be sure you know your zone . I’ve surveyed Helene’s destruction at St. Armands, Lido Key, Siesta Key, and Punta Gorda. The destruction we see across our district highlights the urgent need for my disaster tax relief bill to the pass the Senate immediately so Floridians can receive tax relief they are rightfully owed and can rebuild without facing undue financial hardship. Please take advantage of FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers and SBA’s Business Recovery Centers for one-on-one help from federal officials as you are applying for disaster assistance. The FHA 203(h) program provides federal funds to help individuals whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged by disasters. This program offers FHA insurance to disaster victims, allowing them to purchase or rebuild a home with 100% financing, including closing costs, through participating FHA-approved lenders. It also excludes certain debts and credit issues, such as missed mortgage payments due to the disaster. For 2024, loan limits are $498,257 for Charlotte and Lee Counties and $547,400 for Sarasota County, with expected increases in 2025. For more information, visit the Section 203(h) Mortgage Insurance for Disaster Victims program, and consult with your lender to explore this option. Tomorrow marks one year since the cowardly and brutal Hamas attacks on innocent civilians in Israel. So many lives were senselessly lost in the most horrific manners. Today we remember each one. There are still Israeli and American hostages held captive by Hamas. We will keep fighting for the return of each hostage. Hamas started this war, and Israel must stand boldly in the face of terrorism and finish Hamas. America must fully back their mission and not cave to the terrorist-sympathizers. The Biden-Harris administration enabled Iran’s growth and their riches which funded Oct 7th. The only way to combat Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas is for President Trump to bring strength back to the White House. T o receive frequent updates about the work I’m doing in Congress, I encourage you to visit my website , like my Facebook page , follow me on Rumble , follow me on Gettr, follow me on Truth Social , follow me on Instagram , and follow me on Twitter. View the locations of upcoming Mobile Office Hours here . Keep reading for the full update. Thank you and God bless, |
Surveying Helene Damage in Charlotte County and Siesta Key I joined Senator Rick Scott, Sheriff Prummell, and local leaders in Charlotte County to assess the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Helene. I also had the opportunity to visit families and businesses on Siesta Key whose homes and livelihoods were devastated by Hurricane Helene. Many have lost everything, with their belongings now lining the streets after enduring several feet of storm surge. The devastation is staggering, with homes and businesses destroyed all across FL-17, leaving countless families struggling to rebuild. My disaster tax relief bill, which passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, is crucial for providing a financial lifeline to Floridians. I urge Senator Schumer to bring this vital bill to a vote without delay, so we can speed up recovery efforts and ensure Floridians can rebuild without facing undue financial hardship. Together, we will work relentlessly towards a full recovery for our communities. Read my Op-Ed here . Watch our remarks in Charlotte County here . Contact my office for assistance with federal disaster recovery. Apply for FEMA – Disaster Recovery Centers Now Open FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers are now open to assist individuals and families affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Debby. These centers provide essential support for completing FEMA applications and accessing vital recovery resources. Residents can visit the Sarasota Disaster Recovery Center at Sarasota Christian Church, located at 2923 Ashton Rd., Sarasota, FL 3423 (Open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.). The Manatee Disaster Recovery Center is available at Lakewood Ranch Library, 16410 Rangeland Pkw, Bradenton, FL 34211 (Open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Additionally, Hillsborough County residents can visit the Hillsborough Community College – The Regent at 6437 Watson Rd., Riverview, FL 33578 (Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday). I encourage everyone affected to take advantage of these resources. Click here to locate the nearest recovery center. Apply here or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362). Apply for SBA – Business Recovery Centers Now Open Many businesses in FL-17 have been damaged and are in need of assistance following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Debby. If you’re a small business owner affected by these storms, I encourage you to visit the SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRC) for one-on-one support from SBA representatives. The Sarasota Business Recovery Center is located at Sarasota Christian Church, 2923 Ashton Road, Sarasota, FL 34231, and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Manatee Business Recovery Center is located at Rocky Bluff Library, 6750 US-301, Ellenton, FL 34222, and is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Sundays. Take advantage of these valuable resources to get the help you need in rebuilding your business. Read more here . Apply here or by calling 1-800-659-2955. |
Joining FOX 4 with Senator Rick Scott to Discuss Recovery After Hurricane Helene Joining WINK News With Senator Scott to Survey Damage from Hurricane Helene Joining Newsmax to Discuss The Impacts of Hurricane Helene Joining Maria’s Wall Street to Discuss Fighting for Disaster Tax Relief Joining Real America with Dan Ball to Discuss the Devastation of Helene |
THE SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE | REP. STEUBE: “My bill would help Floridians recover from storms. But DC Democrats don’t care.” “Many are not only still rebuilding their homes from Hurricane Ian in 2022; they are also investing in costly mitigation efforts to prepare for future storms. As a result of Helene, many find themselves starting over. Federal disaster relief has historically been a lifeline during such crises – yet it’s evident that Majority Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, is single-handedly hindering the delivery of the much-needed relief that Floridians rightly deserve. As our state responds to the devastation brought on by Helene, I am once again urging the U.S. Senate to stop delaying and finally pass my legislation, H.R. 5863, the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act.” Read more here. THE DAILY SUN PORT CHARLOTTE | Scott, Steube tour flood-damaged downtown Punta Gorda “PUNTA GORDA — Area officials welcomed U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Greg Steube to Punta Gorda on Tuesday to see the recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene…Steube said he was struck by the sheer devastation Helene brought to his congressional district, despite the fact the storm did not directly travel over the area. ‘All my coastal communities are underwater,’ he told Charlotte County Commissioner Joe Tiseo during a meet-and-greet.” Read more here . FLORIDA POLITICS | Gold Coast Eagle, Anheuser-Busch shift focus from beer to water to help Helene victims “The beverage distributor also said it contacted elected officials — including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan and Greg Steube, state Sen. Jim Boyd and state Rep. Fiona McFarland — to coordinate efforts. ‘Each of these politicians dispatched our trucks to areas that their constituents needed Anheuser-Busch water,’ Saputo said.” Read more here . |
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