Earlier this week, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) announced a plan to bring much-needed relief to the victims of Kentucky’s recent flooding. Paul suggested using unspent COVID-19 relief funds to help the victims of the state’s recent disasters, including this summer’s flooding and last year’s devastating tornadoes.
Paul requested that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and President Joe Biden issue waivers to permit the state to use these funds to “repair and rebuild homes and businesses damaged within a federally-declared disaster area,” according to a press release.
“Such waivers would not only immediately benefit flood victims in eastern Kentucky, it would also help those western Kentuckians who were impacted by last winter’s tornado outbreak,” Paul said in a letter to Biden.
Paul’s idea seems to be on par with Biden’s willingness to do whatever he can to help the victims of the flooding. During a visit to the flood-damaged areas, Biden announced he would do whatever he could to help, going so far as saying, “I promise you, if it’s legal, we’ll do it, and if it’s not legal, we’ll figure out how to change the law.”
So, Biden’s heart appears to be in the right place. Helping the people who suffered from these devastating floods is a bipartisan issue. And that is why Paul’s plan is such a great idea. It takes money that has not been used but was allocated for a disaster and shifts it to where it is urgently needed.
Most importantly, it’s a practical idea that would seemingly expedite the delivery of funds to those who need it the most. Biden and Beshear should agree to Paul’s plan. It’s the best and quickest way to help Kentuckians afflicted by the flooding.
