Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced on Tuesday that Congress has already authorized disaster relief funds to address the immediate response to Hurricane Helene, which has caused significant destruction across multiple states from Florida to western North Carolina and Tennessee. Speaking at the New York Stock Exchange, Johnson highlighted that a replenishment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund was included in a three-month stopgap government funding bill that Congress passed and President Biden signed into law last week.
He assured that the resources FEMA needs to respond to the disaster have already been allocated, stating, “We will make sure that those resources are appropriately allocated.”
Johnson’s comments followed President Biden’s indication that he might ask Congress to reconvene to pass a supplemental relief bill for Hurricane Helene.
Biden mentioned that while he is considering making such a request, no decisions have been finalized yet. Lawmakers recently left Washington after passing the stopgap funding bill and are scheduled to return only after the November election. Johnson did not commit to or rule out the authorization of additional relief funds for Hurricane Helene during the upcoming lame-duck session.
He reflected on the widespread devastation caused by the storm, noting that over 120 people have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands remain without power. Johnson emphasized the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies to meet the ongoing recovery needs, while also acknowledging the resilience and unity demonstrated by communities in the face of such tragedies.
Peoplesmind
