For someone like Jindal who's state was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and needed FEMA's help, he shouldn't be back a whack job like Cotton. But Jindal has no morals so it's not that surprising. Arkansas voters can't allow Cotton to become their next Senator. Senator Mark Pryor (D. AR) has been on top of providing disaster funding for Arkansas and voters need to remember that come November. Click here to donate and get involved with Pryor's campaign:Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal endorsed Congressman Cotton today. The endorsement is surprising given Congressman Cotton’s five reckless votes against federal disaster aid. Congressman Cotton was the only member of the Arkansas delegation to oppose federal disaster aid five times.Congressman Cotton voted against federal disaster funding that helps families and communities recover from tornados, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters.
Democratic Party of Arkansas spokesperson Patrick Burgwinkle released the following statement:
“Congressman Cotton’s five reckless votes against federal disaster relief were irresponsible and not in the best interests of Arkansas. Arkansas and Louisiana have seen more than their fair share of natural disasters and it’s disappointing that Governor Jindal would endorse someone who puts the agenda of his Wall Street backers ahead of doing the right thing for survivors of tornados, hurricanes and floods.”
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IN OFFICE JUST A YEAR, COTTON VOTED 5 TIMES AGAINST DISASTER AIDVote #1: Cotton Opposed A $9.7 Billion FEMA-Only Hurricane Sandy Relief Bill — The Only Member of the Arkansas Delegation To Do So. The Pine Bluff Commercial reported: “Rep. Tom Cotton , R-Dardanelle, voted Friday against legislation that would ensure the federal government has the money to pay flood insurance claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy. Cotton was one of 67 House Republicans to oppose the measure allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to borrow $9.7 billion to cover damage claims from the storm that ravaged New York, New Jersey and Connecticut two months ago. Reps. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, Tim Griffin, R-Little Rock, and Rick Crawford, R-Jonesboro, voted in favor of the bill. The Senate swiftly approved it by voice vote – with no objections.” [Pine Bluff Commercial, 1/4/13; H.R. 41, Vote 7, 1/4/13]
Vote #2: Cotton Voted Against A $17 Billion Bill To Meet Immediate Needs of Communities Affected By Hurricane Sandy, Including Funding The Disaster Relief Fund—The Only Member of the Arkansas Delegation To Do So. In 2013, Cotton voted against the substitute amendment that would provide $17 billion to address immediate needs relating to damage sustained from Superstorm Sandy, including $5.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund, $5.4 billion to aid public transportation systems in New York and New Jersey, $3.9 billion for Department of Housing and Urban Development community development programs, $1.4 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $287 million for repairs to national parks, lands and facilities, $236 million for Veterans Affairs medical activities and construction projects, $144 million for Coast Guard acquisition and construction, $100 million for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund and $100 million for Small Business Administration disaster loans. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 327-91. [CQ; HR 152, Vote #15, 1/15/13]
Vote #3: Cotton Voted Against Adding $33.7 Billion to Hurricane Sandy Disaster Supplemental for Long-Term Recovery Efforts And Funded The Disaster Relief Fund. In 2013, Cotton voted against an amendment that would add $33.7 billion for long-term recovery and mitigation spending to address damage from Superstorm Sandy. The total includes $12.2 billion for Department of Housing and Urban Development community development activities; $6.1 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund; $5.5 billion for transit support; $4 billion for Army Corps of Engineers projects; $700 million for social services programs; and $474 million for repairs to national parks, wildlife refuges and facilities. It also includes an additional $2 billion to repair federal-aid highways. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 228-192. [CQ; HR 152, Vote #22, 1/15/13]
Vote #4: Cotton Voted Against $50 Billion Disaster Supplemental Providing Emergency Aid to Communities Hit By Hurricane Sandy And Funded FEMA Disaster Relief Fund. In 2013, Cotton voted for passage of the bill that would provide about $50.5 billion for communities hit by Superstorm Sandy. Nearly all funding would be designated as emergency spending exempt from discretionary caps, except for $5.4 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund. As amended, the bill would include about $11.5 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, $10.9 billion for transit systems, $16 billion for Department of Housing and Urban Development community development programs, $5.4 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, $708 million for repairs to national parks, wildlife refuges and facilities, $234 million for Veterans Affairs medical activities and construction projects, $274 million for Coast Guard projects and $520 million for Small Business Administration disaster loans. The bill passed by a vote of 241-180. [CQ; HR 152, Vote #23, 1/15/13]
Vote #5: Cotton Voted Against The FY 2014 Omnibus Appropriations Bill That Funded Disaster Relief Fund. In January 2014, Cotton voted against Rogers, R-Ky., motion to concur in the Senate amendments to the bill with a House amendment that would provide about $1.1 trillion in discretionary appropriations in fiscal 2014 for federal departments and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2014 spending bills. Included in that total is: $20.9 billion for Agriculture, $51.6 billion for Commerce-Justice-Science, $572 billion for Defense, including $85.2 billion for overseas contingency operations associated with the war in Afghanistan and other counterterrorism operations, $34.1 billion for Energy-Water, $21.9 billion for Financial Services, $39.3 billion for Homeland Security, $30.1 billion for Interior-Environment, $156.8 billion for Labor-HHS-Education, $4.3 billion for the Legislative Branch, $73.3 billion for Military Construction-VA, $49 billion for State-Foreign Affairs, and $50.9 billion for Transportation-HUD. [CQ Floor Votes, H.R. 3547, Vote 21, 1/15/14]
ARKANSAS NEWSPAPERS NOTED THAT COTTON SERVED HIS WALL-STREET BACKERS IN OPPOSING DISASTER AID
Brummett: “Cotton Has Served His Wall Street-Based Underwriters By Opposing Disaster Aid.”“Huckabee remains detested by the Ayn Randian economic libertarian group, the Club for Growth, that underwrote the congressional campaign of Tom Cotton in 2012. In turn, Cotton has served his Wall Street-based underwriters by opposing disaster aid and student loans and the better interests of Arkansas farmers. Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Budget Committee, is a usual Club for Growth favorite who, like Cotton, champions a dramatically reformed and reduced government role in human services.” [John Brummett, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 3/16/14]
FEMA HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER $2 MILLION TO HELP ARKANSAS RECOVER FROM DEADLY TORNADOES
One Month After Tornado Hit Arkansas, FEMA Had Distributed Nearly $2.3 Million To Survivors Of The Storm. Four weeks after a tornado struck central Arkansas, killing 16 people, amid a severe storm that also caused widespread flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it has distributed nearly $2.3 million to survivors. The EF4 tornado killed people in Pulaski, Faulkner and White counties and damaged sections of Mayflower and Vilonia. More than 5 inches of rainfall in Randolph County washed out county roads and bridges. Individual assistance from FEMA is available to residents affected by the storms in Pulaski, Faulkner, White and Randolph counties. Public assistance for governmental agencies and nonprofit entities is available in Faulkner, Cleburne, Independence, Jackson, Izard, Sharp, Lawrence, Randolph, White, Fulton and Clay counties. [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/26/14]
HEADLINE—$2.3 Million From FEMA Goes To Tornado Survivors [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/26/14]
One Month After Tornado Hit Arkansas, FEMA Had Approved $2.5 Million In Low-Interest Disaster Assistance Loans To Survivors Of The Storm.“FEMA said it has also approved $2.5 million in low-interest disaster assistance loans so far, and disaster assistance survey teams have surveyed 1,800 homes. ‘With everyone pulling together, Arkansas will continue along the road to recovery,’ FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Timothy J. Scranton said in a news release.” [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 5/26/14]
KARK: More Than 650 People In Faulkner County Received Federal Assistance From FEMA.“On Sunday morning, FEMA reported more than 650 people who live in Faulkner County were already receiving federal financial assistance. The agency reports 655 people have received payments totaling $725,000. That figure will continue to rise throughout the next few weeks. At this point, only Faulkner County has been declared a federal disaster area. That means only tornado victims in that county are eligible for federal financial help.” [KARK, 5/1/14]
HEADLINE—650 Tornado Victims Receiving Assistance From FEMA [KARK,5/1/14]
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund Funded “Almost $2.2 Million To Uninsured Or Underinsured Residents Of Polk County” In Addition To Another $2.2 Million “In Public Assistance Funds” After A Tornado Came Through Mena, AR.“Following an April 9, 2009, tornado that brought death and destruction to Mena, the Federal Emergency Management Agency funded disaster relief of almost $2.2 million to uninsured or underinsured residents of Polk County. Another $2.2 million in low-interest loans administered through the Small Business Administration funded private rebuilding in the area. FEMA also provided another $2.2 million in public assistance funds, requiring a 25 percent local match, to pay for debris removal, cleanup and remediation of public property and facilities.” [SW Times Record, 5/20/12]
