Vangie Williams Statement on FEMA Funding Diverted to ICE

September 14, 2018

Contact: Sheri Shannon, [email protected]

Fredericksburg, VA. – Democratic candidate Vangie Williams (VA-01) released the following statement on funds being transferred from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

“This week, it was reported that nearly $10 million of FEMA’s operating budget was transferred in order to fund immigrant detention. While this is an unfortunate misappropriation of funds, the larger issue is our nation’s unwillingness to prepare for natural disasters.

“As a nation we place our emphasis on being reactive to large-scale disasters with FEMA relief and insurance schemes, but if we did more to plan ahead, we could address the increasingly costly natural disasters plaguing our country. Budget cuts on infrastructure investment, training and resource programs leave communities more vulnerable to damage.

“We need the federal government involved in cleanup and natural disaster response, but our biggest priority should be proactive investments in infrastructure and planning that mitigates the problem to begin with.

“As a member of Congress, I want to move away from the cycle of remorse and reaction. Let’s invest in our country. We deserve better.”

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