### GOP Lawmakers Vote Against FEMA Funding Extension Amid Hurricane Helene's Devastation

As Hurricane Helene ravaged Florida's Panhandle, a significant number of Republican lawmakers in Congress voted against a measure to extend Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding. The stopgap spending bill, designed to keep the government funded through December 20, allocated $20 billion to FEMA's disaster relief fund. However, the bill failed to include additional requested supplemental disaster funding.

The Senate approved the measure with a 78-18 vote on September 25, followed by the House passing it with a 341-82 vote. A substantial number of Republicans cast the dissenting votes in both chambers. Among these Republicans were representatives from states severely affected by Hurricane Helene, such as Florida's own Matt Gaetz. Helene made landfall in Florida last Thursday as a Category 4 storm and caused extensive damage estimated to reach up to $160 billion, according to AccuWeather.

Tensions rose as some Republicans criticized the allocation of FEMA funds for migrant assistance, following warnings from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about FEMA's looming financial shortfall. "We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting," Mayorkas stated, indicating that FEMA's resources might be depleted before the end of the hurricane season.

President Joe Biden hinted on Monday that he might call Congress back into session during its break to address the urgent need for supplemental disaster funding. However, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that the current FEMA funding in the recently approved bill was sufficient, negating the necessity for an early return of lawmakers.

The following GOP lawmakers voted against the bill: Representatives James Baird, Troy Balderson, Jim Banks, Aaron Bean, Andy Biggs, Gus Bilirakis, Dan Bishop, Lauren Boebert, Mike Bost, Josh Brecheen, Tim Burchett, Eric Burlison, Kat Cammack, Michael Cloud, Andrew Clyde, Mike Collins, Eli Crane, John Curtis, Warren Davidson, Byron Donalds, Jeff Duncan, Ron Estes, Mike Ezell, Randy Feenstra, Brad Finstad, Michelle Fischbach, Russell Fry, Russ Fulcher, Matt Gaetz, Tony Gonzales, Bob Good, Lance Gooden, Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Morgan Griffith, Michael Guest, Harriet Hageman, Andy Harris, Clay Higgins, Jim Jordan, John Joyce, Trent Kelly, Darin LaHood, Laurel Lee, Debbie Lesko, Greg Lopez, Anna Paulina Luna, Morgan Lutrell, Nancy Mace, Tracey Mann, Thomas Massie, Tom McClintock, Rich McCormick, Mary Miller, Max Miller, Cory Mills, Alex Mooney, Barry Moore, Nathaniel Moran, Ralph Norman, Andy Ogles, Gary Palmer, Scott Perry, Bill Posey, John Rose, Matt Rosendale, Chip Roy, David Schweikert, Keith Self, Victoria Spartz, Claudia Tenney, William Timmons, Jeff Van Drew, Beth Van Duyne, Derrick Van Orden, Mike Waltz, Randy Weber, Daniel Webster, Bruce Westerman, Roger Williams, Rudy Yakym, and Senators Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, Katie Britt, Ted Budd, Mike Crapo, Deb Fischer, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, Roger Marshall, Markwayne Mullin, Rand Paul, Pete Ricketts, James Risch, Eric Schmitt, Tim Scott, and Tommy Tuberville.

The situation underscores the deep partisan divide over disaster funding and federal resource allocation, particularly in the face of natural calamities and their immediate aftermath.