Kane County Reporter

State Representative Dan Ugaste shared information regarding reactions to comments on disaster recovery funding. In an October 7 Facebook post, he said, "Officials are furious after DHS Secretary Mayorkas claimed there’s a lack of FEMA funds for Hurricane Helene’s recovery."

"Officials are furious after DHS Secretary Mayorkas claimed there's a lack of FEMA funds for Hurricane Helene's recovery," said Ugaste, according to Facebook. "With lives at stake, it's time for action and accountability."

According to Ugaste, he shared a link to a Fox News article in which Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody expressed concern over the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) funding. Moody said people should be outraged that FEMA does not have the necessary funds to manage the hurricane season. "So you heard they have taken the FEMA emergency food and shelter program and over time siphoned off hundreds of millions of dollars into basically making it an illegal immigrant resettlement program," she said during a Fox News interview.

Screenshot of State Rep. Dan Ugaste's Oct. 7 Facebook post | State Representative Dan Ugaste's Facebook page

On October 2, aboard Air Force One, Secretary Mayorkas addressed the financial demands facing FEMA. He said, "We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season," according to an Associated Press report from October 2. The AP noted that Mayorkas' comments align with President Joe Biden's remarks and those of other lawmakers suggesting Congress may need to pass a supplemental spending bill for recovery efforts this fall. However, legislators are currently in recess and are not expected to return until after the 2024 election.

FEMA has published a page addressing rumors similar to those mentioned by Moody in her Fox News interview. Regarding allegations that disaster response funding was diverted for international or border-related issues, FEMA clarified: "This is false. No money is being diverted from disaster response needs."

Dan Ugaste has represented Illinois' 65th House District since 2018. Before his political career, he was an attorney and shareholder at Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie & Lowry, focusing on workers' compensation defense and related litigation.