by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont congressional delegation on Saturday voted to keep the government funded and replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund with $16 billion. The House voted by a 335-91 margin Saturday afternoon and the Senate followed with a vote of 88-9. President Biden then signed the measure Saturday, which provides 45 days of stop-gap funding.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Saturday issued the following statement: “I’m delighted that Congress was able to avoid a painful and unnecessary shutdown. I am also pleased that programs working families desperately need were not cut and that, in fact, there was a good increase in funds for disaster relief which will help Vermonters rebuild from July’s terrible flooding.
“I look forward to seeing Congress provide, in the very near future, financial support for Ukraine which is valiantly struggling against Russian aggression.”
Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) said: “Today I voted for a Continuing Resolution that keeps the government open, and—critically for Vermont—replenishes FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund to help communities respond to, and recover from, disasters. This is great news for our state, and I’m grateful for our Delegation’s bipartisan, bicameral work to support Vermont rebuild and recover from this summer’s floods.
“As funding negotiations continue, I am going to keep working with my partners in the Vermont Congressional Delegation to fight for additional flood relief for our farmers, small businesses, and communities. I’m also disappointed Ukraine did not receive the funding it needs to push back against Putin’s unjust invasion and urge both chambers to work together on supplemental funding for Ukraine.
“For weeks, the Senate has worked in a bipartisan way to pass annual funding bills and keep the government open. It should have never required an 11th-hour vote to keep the government open. This unnecessary weeks-long uncertainty put the financial health and wellbeing of Vermonters, and the American economy, in harm’s way.
“The American people deserve a better-functioning Congress. Shutdown threats hurt the integrity of our democracy and the faith the American people have in this institution.”
Congresswoman Becca Balint (D-Vermont) released the following statement after voting “yes:” “Today, despite weeks of Republican infighting, I voted to keep the federal government funded, for now avoiding cruel proposed spending cuts and dangerous consequences of a government shutdown. This vote extends our current budget for 45 days - standard practice that Republicans have refused to implement until the 11th hour. This reckless behavior and lack of seriousness put real families at risk and threatened critical disaster relief funding.
“My most basic responsibility to Vermonters and all Americans is to ensure that working people have the resources they need to support their families. Funding that will make it possible to recover from flooding, receive quality education, have access to food assistance for their children, and be paid for military service.
“The bill I voted on today also fully funds FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund to support recovery in Vermont and other states that experienced devastating climate disasters this summer. Vermonters are depending on these funds to get themselves back on their feet and to help their communities build back stronger.
“Now that we have averted a shutdown and held the line on extreme MAGA spending cuts, it’s time we move past political games and put the American people first. Otherwise, we will find ourselves back in the same situation in 45 days, only causing more chaos and uncertainty. I’m committed to working to ensure future government funding supports critical programs that bring federal investments directly to our communities that need it most.”
Source: 9.30.2023. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Delegation