Speaker Mike Johnson stated Sunday that Congress will “do whatever is necessary to cover the needs of the people” after Hurricane Helene and Milton, however that it might be “premature” to return again to Washington now earlier than assessing how a lot catastrophe reduction is required.
“What happens after every storm is that the states have to assess and calculate the actual needs, and then they submit to Congress that request,” Johnson stated throughout an interview with host Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “As soon as that is done, Congress will meet and in bipartisan fashion, we will address those needs. We’ll provide the additional resources.”
“But it would be premature to call everyone back now, because these storms are so large in their scope and magnitude, it’s going to take a little bit of time to make those calculations,” the Louisiana Republican added.
Johnson stated that cash has already been allotted to storm victims to satisfy their quick wants and that as of this morning, two % of these funds had been distributed. However he stated as for Congress passing extra sources to rebuild and refund the realm, that may first require extra calculations. He added that Congress authorised $20 billion to FEMA the day earlier than Helene hit.
Congress is at the moment not scheduled to be again in session till after the election.
Afterward the identical program, Secretary of the Division of Homeland Safety Alejandro Mayorkas stated that Congress might want to come again to fund FEMA however at the moment there’s sufficient cash for people impacted by the hurricanes. However he inspired Congress to return, particularly since extra storms may very well be on the way in which.
“FEMA has the money to address the immediate needs of individuals impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, but we need Congress to act swiftly to fund FEMA and specifically its Disaster Relief Fund, because hurricane season is not over,” Mayorkas stated.
Johnson additionally stated the Biden administration must act faster in getting the present funds to hurricane victims.
“People are hurting and I’ve been on the ground in the most affected disaster areas, Florida, North Carolina, they really need the help,” Johnson stated.
Mayorkas pushed again on claims of delays, saying the Biden administration has already distributed over $470 million in reduction to hurricane victims even because it tries to find out who wants assist.
“Assessing the damage from Hurricane Milton, which is of historic strength, and it also led to approximately 27 different tornadoes, so we don’t know the impact,” Mayorkas stated. “We don’t know what’s coming tomorrow. Whether it’s another hurricane, a tornado, a fire, an earthquake.”
He added, “We have to be ready, and it is not good government to be dependent on a day-to-day existence as opposed to appropriate planning.”
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