Florida Members of Congress Introduce Disaster Housing Bill

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) introduced on November 2 a bill (S. 2066) to authorize additional funding for Housing Choice Vouchers and for public housing capital and operating funds if requested by a public housing agency in a presidentially declared disaster area. Senator Nelson noted in a statement that tens of thousands of people from Puerto Rico have left the island for Florida only to find a lack of affordable housing options. Representative Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) introduced H.R. 4249, a companion bill mirroring the Nelson bill in the House on November 3. In a press release, Ms. Murphy stated, “Just as we did after Hurricane Katrina, we should give states who receive hurricane victims the resources they need to provide for their current and new residents.” Both bills also offer medical assistance to eligible evacuees through Medicaid.