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just one day before Hurricane Helene tore through Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz of the Sunshine State was among several Republicans to vote against a stopgap measure that would continue funding the government and provide billions of dollars in extra disaster assistance.

The House of Representatives approved a continuing resolution on Wednesday, which extends Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding through December 20 and permits the agency to access those funds more quickly. But FEMA faces a multibillion-dollar deficit, even after imposing new spending restrictions last month—forgoing some ongoing rebuilding projects related to disaster repair to be better financially equipped to face immediate needs related to incoming disasters.

This isn't the first time Gaetz has voted against a continuing resolution that includes disaster relief funding. He also did so in 2022, just days after Hurricane Ian ravaged Florida. Despite his most recent vote, Gaetz promised that Floridians would still have support for Hurricane Helene damage, according to a report by ABC 3. When reached for comment, Gaetz's office directed Newsweek to the ABC report.

"We were able to work together in a bipartisan way in the Florida delegation to get President [Joe] Biden to issue the national state of emergency that unlocks federal funding," Gaetz said in the report. "And the office of management and budget does have the ability to move around some operations funds to ensure that the initial resources, particularly for debris removal, are achieved."

"The checks will still come. The money will still be there," he added. "There is work to do in Congress. And then go and backfill. But people should not be worried that we won't have the ability to do things like individual assistance and support for our local governments."