Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday mentioned passing further hurricane assist for states impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton “can wait” till Congress is again in session after the election.
CBS “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan requested him why he thinks it’s high-quality to attend till November for Congress to go extra assist for Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton victims.
“Well, it can wait because, remember, the day before Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and then went up through the states and wound up in Senator Tillis’ state of North Carolina, Congress appropriated 20 billion additional dollars to FEMA so that they would have the necessary resources to address immediate needs,” Johnson mentioned.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was a part of a bipartisan group of senators to signal a letter urging Senate leaders to consider bringing lawmakers again into session this month to enact catastrophe laws earlier than the top of the 12 months.
Home lawmakers have additionally urged Johnson to deliver the chamber again into session. A bunch of Democrats despatched a letter final week asking him to take action, and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) posted on the social media platform X that, “If Congress goes into a special session we can get it passed immediately. This needs to happen. @SpeakerJohnson call us back.”
The persevering with decision Congress handed to avert a authorities shutdown final month allowed for the company to make use of the fund’s fiscal 12 months 2025 assets quicker for catastrophe response at some point of the practically three-month stopgap, permitting the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) entry to attract from a roughly $20 billion pot beginning Oct. 1. Nevertheless it notably excluded any further FEMA funding.
Johnson mentioned that as of Sunday, lower than 2 p.c of the already handed funding has been distributed. He mentioned the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) must “do its job” and disperse the funds to the affected communities.
FEMA officers say they’ve adequate assets to reply to the pair of hurricanes till Congress returns, however additionally they indicated practically half that cash is already spent.
The Speaker mentioned the affected states, together with Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, must assess the injury from the storm and calculate their wants earlier than requesting extra money from Congress.
“As soon as that is done, Congress will meet and in a bipartisan fashion, we will address those needs, will provide the additional resources, but it would be premature to call everyone back now,” Johnson mentioned.
