WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nexstar) — The federal government owes tens of millions of dollars tolocal governments and non-profits, and it’s not paying up.
Congress approved $30 million to reimburse cities, counties,churches, and others who have provided care for migrants taken into custody onthe Mexican border — but for weeks that money has been held up in Washington.
FEMA was supposed to start accepting reimbursementapplications on July 31, but Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar says FEMAhas put the payments on hold while it revamps its application and paymentprocess.
Texas Republican Congressman Will Hurd says Congress needs toput pressure on FEMA, saying:
“It is now time for the oversight role to make sure that these resources to reimburse these communities that are taking on the burden of the federal government, that they are getting reimbursed and made whole.”
Cuellar says FEMA needs to get moving, the federal fiscalyear ends September 30.
FEMA seems finally to be ready to open the checkbook. It haswarned local communities to start preparing applications, saying in a notice: “Timeis of the essence…be prepared for an accelerated application process.”
