Ranking Member DeLauro Statement on Judge Order to Restore Federal Disaster Aid Funding Blocked by Trump Administration

WASHINGTON – Today, House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released a statement after a lawsuit led by Connecticut resulted in a court order to release more than $4 billion of Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding that the Trump Administration is withholding. 

The BRIC program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and provides funding for states to fortify roads, bridges, waterways and other public infrastructure to reduce the damage of natural disasters. The court order instructs the release of $84 million for Connecticut communities.

“This funding was lawfully approved by Congress on a bipartisan basis to protect communities across the country from natural disasters. I am proud to have worked with my Democratic and Republican colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to secure this funding, so when the next disaster strikes, we are ready for it.

“It is shameful that the Trump Administration ever sought to withhold this funding in the first place. Now that a judge has ruled, the administration must abide by the law and let this funding flow. Furthermore, Congress must come together to enact full year funding measures before the January 30 deadline, including the Homeland Security bill which funds FEMA, to ensure our constituents are not left more vulnerable to natural disasters because President Trump believes his administration is above the law.

“I applaud Attorney General Tong for his efforts in leading this lawsuit and congratulate him on securing this court order to release funding not only for the state of Connecticut, but communities throughout the United States.”

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