President Joe Biden on Thursday joined rising calls from Democrats and even one Republican to deliver Congress again to move sure further catastrophe assist funding within the wake of the devastation in southeastern states brought on by back-to-back hurricanes.
Biden informed reporters that the Small Enterprise Administration is “fairly proper on the edge now,” and it will take “a number of billion {dollars}” to assist companies recuperate within the affected states.
“I believe that Congress ought to be coming again and transferring on emergency wants instantly,” he mentioned, however notably didn’t say the identical about Federal Emergency Administration Company funding earlier than Election Day.
Former President Donald Trump has falsely claimed FEMA has run out of catastrophe funds as a result of the cash was “stolen” to make use of as a substitute to assist migrants, a declare the White Home has strongly denied, saying the cash comes from separate funding “spigots.”
Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas insisted Thursday that FEMA has sufficient catastrophe funding to deal with the rapid wants from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton and associated twister injury.
President Joe Biden speaks and provides an replace on the affect and the continued response to Hurricane Milton, within the South Court docket Auditorium on the White Home advanced in Washington, Oct. 10, 2024.
Susan Walsh/AP
Whilst raised the dire want for extra SBA funding, Biden mentioned he has not reached out to Home Speaker Mike Johnson about bringing Home lawmakers again to Washington.
Whereas Johnson has dedicated to passing aid after the election, he has resisted strain from Democrats, particularly, to deliver the Home again earlier than Election Day, explaining it’s going to take time for states to evaluate the necessity.
“Congress will present,” Johnson promised throughout an interview this previous weekend on “Fox Information Sunday.” “We’ll assist folks in these disaster-prone areas. It’s an applicable position for the federal authorities, and also you’ll have bipartisan assist for that, and it’ll all occur in due time, and we’ll get that job completed. There shouldn’t be any concern about that.”
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the Home visits the New York Inventory Trade to ship an financial deal with in New York Metropolis, Oct. 1, 2024.
Kent J. Edwards/Reuters
There are related calls from lawmakers for Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer to reconvene the higher chamber.
Dozens of Home Democrats despatched a letter to Johnson making their case as he toured injury in western North Carolina on Wednesday with Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd and GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards.
“Latest laws has offered preliminary aid funds, but these provisions fall critically brief of what is going to be mandatory to deal with the dimensions of destruction and the restoration wants for Fiscal Yr 2025. We, due to this fact, urge you to right away reconvene the US Home of Representatives in order that it may well move strong catastrophe aid funding,” the letter, signed by 63 Democrats, mentioned.
The speaker’s workplace declined to remark to ABC Information straight on the letter, as a substitute referring to Johnson’s public feedback on the subject.
Democrats should not alone of their request.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican who evacuated her house in Pinellas County, additionally needs Johnson to deliver lawmakers again for a particular session.
An aerial view of destroyed and broken buildings within the aftermath of Hurricane Helene flooding, Oct. 8, 2024, in Bat Cave, North Carolina.
Mario Tama/Getty Photographs
Luna, who has been spreading misinformation about FEMA funding, posted a press release on X claiming that further funding could be authorised.
“If Congress goes right into a particular session we will get it handed instantly,” she mentioned.
Mayorkas additionally confused the gravity of the state of affairs following a tour of western North Carolina on Thursday.
A drone picture reveals the dome of Tropicana Area which has been torn open attributable to Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, Oct. 10, 2024.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP through Getty Photographs
Though he mentioned that FEMA has the funding to deal with hurricanes Helene and Milton and associated tornadoes, he mentioned the federal flood insurance coverage program is within the purple.
Homes lie in ruins after sustaining twister and flood injury from Hurricane Milton, Oct. 10, 2024, in Matlacha, Fla.
Marta Lavandier/AP
“We’re engaged on a unbroken decision that’s not steady footing for the work that we do in catastrophe response. And so that’s the reason I underscore the necessity for Congress to behave swiftly upon its return,” Mayorkas mentioned.
