NORTH JERSEY — Today, September 22, 2023, U.S Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) warned of the risk a government shutdown would pose to disaster relief. Tropical Storm Ophelia is projected to impact New Jersey beginning tonight— bringing rain, high winds, and flooding.

Without a government funding bill signed into law before October 1, 2023, the government will shut down, putting federal disaster recovery investments at risk of running out.

FEMA has described current funding levels for disaster recovery as unsustainable during hurricane season and began rationing resources last month. FEMA Administrator Criswell said the agency has paused longer-term recovery projects and that a government shutdown would make FEMA’s resources “insufficient to cover all of our ongoing life saving operations.”

“New Jersey families will be facing Tropical Storm Ophelia and the devastating impact it could bring to homes, businesses, infrastructure, and communities. Extremists on the far-right want to shut down the government. If they get their way and Jersey is hit hard by this storm, there may not be adequate federal resources to help our families,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Commonsense governing is the way forward, not extremism, and our bipartisan framework provides a roadmap to stop a government shutdown, help hard-working families, spur our economy, and protect our national security.”

The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus — co-chaired by Gottheimer — has put forth and endorsed a framework to stop a government shutdown and address our nation’s long-term fiscal health. The framework includes federal disaster response.

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