U. S. Senator Rand Paul on Monday announced the advent of the Disaster Relief Prioritization Act, which would allow the COVID-19 aid budget to be used in crisis recovery efforts.
The law, proposed nine months after a devastating tornado outbreak devastated western and central Kentucky and just about two months after historic flooding hit eastern Kentucky, would allow teams to use the unspent COVID-19 relief budget for crisis recovery efforts that are still being positioned across the state.
The Kentucky Republican said the law would allow the unused budget to pass to other people and communities in need.
“As we continue to recover, I remain committed to doing everything we can to help Kentuckians repair and rebuild their homes and businesses,” Paul said in the news release. “In an effort to address the current wishes and considerations of others on the ground, my bill prioritizes crisis relief efforts by freeing up the already allocated and unspent COVID-19 aid budget for those who love it most. Whether it’s a flood in eastern Kentucky, a tornado in western Kentucky, a hurricane in Florida, or a chimney in California, my bill would unlock millions of the remaining COVID-19 budget that would be used to help rebuild homes and businesses in crisis areas.
He said the unused budget would allow teams to rebuild homes and businesses after a disaster.
Funds from the following government pandemic relief efforts would be eligible: CARES COVID-19 Act, American Rescue Plan Act, Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, Emergency Relief for Americans Affected by coronavirus, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Paycheck Protection Program, and Health Care Improvement Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021, and the Other Extensions Act and the Government Funding Extension and Emergency Assistance Delivery Act.
After visiting Kentucky in early August following the floods, Paul wrote letters to President Joe Biden and Gov. Andy Beshear requesting that waivers be granted to those communities for the same purpose, according to the statement.
Lily Burris is a tornado recovery reporter for WKMS, NPR’s station in Murray State. His nine-month reporting assignment is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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