Here Are All The Republicans Who Voted "No" On A Disaster Relief Bill For Hurricane Victims

Sen. Barrasso was appointed as a senator in 2007 when his predecessor died — now he's in his first full term after winning in 2012. He's focused on passing legislation on wildfires, but he seems to have changed his tune on aid. He voted in favor of the Hurricane Harvey aid bill, focused on Texas. Now that Puerto Rico is in the mix, he voted no.

Sen. Cotton is the Senate's youngest member, having been elected in 2014 at the age of 37. He voted in favor of Hurricane Harvey aid, but is now opposed to an aid package that includes food assistance for Puerto Ricans.

Like his colleague from Wyoming, this Western senator is all for working on wildfires — even with FEMA. He, too, voted in favor of the Harvey bill and against the legislation providing aid to Puerto Ricans.

Sen. Enzi was elected to the Senate in 1996, and has consistently voted against disaster relief aid. On top of his "no" vote on this disaster relief bill, he also voted against the Harvey aid bill.

In the past the senator has spoken about directing aid at those who need it most. His press secretary, Max D'Onofrio, tells Bustle that this time his opposition comes from the National Flood Insurance Program provisions in the bill. D'Onofrio also noted that Sen. Enzi is the Chairman of the Budget Committee.

Elected in 2012, Sen. Flake has also consistently been against natural disaster aid since Hurricane Harvey. Rather than vote for funding aid, he is focusing on reducing the wages of workers who carry out rebuilding by suspending a bill that requires contractors pay the "prevailing" wage in an area.

Sen. Inhofe, first elected in 1994, is another lawmaker who voted for Harvey aid, but struck down the broader package that includes Puerto Rico. His press office seems to have been for FEMA help in the past, when his state was in need.

Sen. Johnson has represented Wisconsin since 2011. He voted against the Harvey aid and now this latest bill, though he has also visited FEMA offices and taken trips to Puerto Rico.

After the last vote, Sen. Lankford said he voted no because it was tied to the debt ceiling; this time, it's unclear. He's for FEMA grants going to places of worship, and that could be a reason. He first won election to the Senate in 2014.

In the past, Lee opposed disaster relief aid because it wasn't offset with spending cuts. He voted against both Harvey aid and advancing the new bill.

This time around, he said on the floor:

Instead of helping the victims of these disasters through responsible aid paired with lasting reform, Congress has rushed to its favorite "solution": Billions in new spending, with little accountability or oversight.

If this $36.5 billion aid package passes, it will mean more money and power for government programs that in some cases left us vulnerable to these disasters.

If it passes, the politicians and lobbyists will pat themselves on the back for doing a good deed—and then move on to the next billion-dollar spending opportunity.

He went on with specifics, much of it tied to the government's debt, and also Puerto Rico's. His upcoming vote on tax reform will be something to watch too. Lee has represented Utah since 2011.

Paul, a Kentucky senator since 2011, voted against Harvey relief and against advancing the current bill. A libertarian, he is also pushing for cuts elsewhere to pay for the disaster spending. One big plan was to cut spending overseas by the same amount spent on American disaster relief.

Perdue won election in 2014, and he isn't totally against FEMA — or at least he advised his constituents to use their apps while preparing for Hurricane Irma. He also voted for the Harvey funding.

Now, though, he's against advancing the current aid bill that includes Puerto Rico.

Risch won election in 2008, and has voted against advancing natural disaster relief twice. But he does think that small businesses can fill in the gap, even if Americans don't have money to spend with them.

Elected in 2014, Sasse has been consistent in opposing disaster relief funds since Harvey. He wants it paid for, not to add to the nation's debt.

Shelby's vote seems odd given that Alabama has at times been hit with hurricanes, and other natural disasters that FEMA helps with. He has been against aid to certain states, particularly in opposing money for Sandy a few years ago. He did vote in favor of the Texas Harvey aid; it's just this current bill that he voted against.

An employee in Shelby's office who didn't want to be identified tells Bustle that the senator doesn't agree with the $16 billion for the National Flood Insurance Program. "He has long been an opponent of bailouts," the source says.

Newly appointed to the Senate in 2017, Strange is new to Washington. It's hard to know what he thinks about such things, but he did vote in favor of Harvey aid and against this latest relief bill.

Sen. Toomey won election in 2010, and again won reelection in 2016, beating Katie McGinty. He's consistently voted against Harvey aid and the new bill, but the reason why is unclear. He's released statements supporting flood insurance in the past, a big part of where the funding in the bill goes to.

These 16 senators will not stop continued aid, but this is their current position. If you'd like to change it, consider calling them to let them know why supporting disaster relief for all Americans is important.