Congressman Cohen Votes to Re-Open Government and Provide Disaster Relief

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for, and the House passed, the Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act, providing $12.14 billion in emergency spending to meet the urgent needs of Americans recently affected by hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires and other natural disasters. The bill would also open up those agencies and departments of the federal government currently closed in the Trump Shutdown through February 8.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"It is a sad day when most Republicans are not only against opening government, but against helping victims of natural disasters. Today's vote is the eighth time we have voted to re-open the federal government since the new Congress convened January 3. If Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans would take up these bills, we could debate border security with a full federal work force and could end the unfair trauma that has been visited on them and those who depend on the services they provide."

The Disaster Supplemental Appropriations Act provides funding, among other things, for infrastructure and community development programs to repair transportation, housing, businesses and public infrastructure damaged in natural disasters. It provides nutrition assistance to the people of Puerto Rico; provides funding to farmers who suffered crop and livestock losses; provides money to repair U.S. Marshals Service facilities, and U.S. Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard bases; and allocates funding for legal assistance to those affected by recent natural disasters.