WASHINGTON, D.C.— As the remnants of Hurricane Priscilla are expected to bring heavy rainfall and flash flooding to Arizona through the weekend, U.S. Congressman Greg Stanton (D-AZ) is urging federal officials to prepare to assist Arizonans–and for Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva without any more delay.
Stanton again demanded Speaker Johnson to use all the available tools at his disposal to immediately administer the oath of office for Representative-elect Grijalva. His letter is HERE.
“Members of Congress are an essential resource for constituents before, during and after a natural disaster. A fully operational Congressional office provides immediate assistance and up-to-date information to those in affected areas; serves as a real-time information flow for federal, state and local emergency management; and is essential in supporting recovery efforts. By blocking Representative-elect Grijalva from taking the oath of office, you are depriving more than 800,000 Arizonans of critical assistance ahead of a potentially deadly storm,” Stanton wrote.
He also fired off several requests to federal and state officials this morning in anticipation of the heavy, prolonged rainfall, including:
- A letter to President Trump urging him to expedite State or Tribal disaster declarations.
- A letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator David Richardson, urging him to preposition supplies and personnel in accordance with the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA).
- A letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and FEMA Administrator Richardson, urging them to waive the Trump-era DHS policy requiring FEMA expenses over $100,000 to be personally approved by Secretary Noem.
- A letter to Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs urging her to formally request the $100,000 rule be waived, should she seek a disaster declaration.
Stanton serves as Ranking Member of the House Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee with jurisdiction over FEMA.