Biden may call Congress back for Hurricane Helene relief funding
President Biden said Monday he expects to ask Congress for a supplemental bill to fund Hurricane Helene relief efforts, suggesting lawmakers may have to return from their lengthy election recess to pass it.
Biden said it’s his “expectation” to ask for a supplemental funding bill, but that he didn’t have a price tag for it yet, adding “this is a historic storm, its devastating.”
When asked if he would ask Congress to return from recess, he said, “that is something I may have to request, but no decisions are made yet.”
Congress left on Thursday for recess, and the House and Senate aren't expected to return until Nov. 12, after Election Day.
Congress passed a three-month stopgap last week, which did not include $10 billion in additional funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund that was in the Republicans’ original six-month funding bill.
The legislation did include a provision that allows FEMA to use resources faster for disaster response over the next three months.
Biden also said Monday he plans to go to North Carolina as soon as Wednesday to access the storm damage, stressing that he doesn’t want to go too quickly and disrupt relief efforts.
“I told the governor of North Carolina I’d go down. I expect to be down there by Wednesday or Thursday,” Biden said. “You know there’s an entourage, it can be disruptive.”
When asked about former President Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, visiting Georgia on Monday for a briefing on the damage, Biden said, “I don’t have any idea.”
Trump is expected to visit a furniture store in Valdosta, Ga., which is in a pivotal swing state in November’s election.
“I’m committed to traveling to impacted areas as soon as possible,” Biden said. “But I’ve been told that it would be disruptive if I did it right now. We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis.”
The president said he has been in touch with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R). FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is on the ground in Asheville, N.C., Biden noted, and 3,600 federal personnel have been deployed to impacted areas.
Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, bringing with it devastating winds and rainfall and more than 100 casualties across six states, The Associated Press reported.
Vice President Harris cut her West Coast campaign swing short to return Monday to Washington for a briefing on the storm at the FEMA’s headquarters.
Updated at noon EDT
Date: | |
Tag: | Joe Biden |
Topics
-
Politics - Politico
Biden: Congress 'may have to' come back to approve Helene relief
2 hours ago - Joe Biden -
Top stories - The New York Times
Biden Will Visit Appalachia Region Ravaged by Hurricane Helene
The death toll from the storm has risen to more than 110 people across six states. Hundreds remain unaccounted for, and drinking water, gasoline and cellphone service are scarce.54 minutes ago - Joe Biden -
Politics - The Hill
Watch live: Biden to address devastation from Hurricane Helene
President Biden is set to deliver remarks Monday at 10:30 a.m. EDT about the administration’s response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The hurricane swept through the Big Bend area ...5 hours ago - Joe Biden -
Top stories - ABC News
LIVE: ABC News Live
24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events2 hours ago -
Top stories - The New York Times
In North Carolina, Helene Emergency Workers Race to Provide Relief
Thousands of people struggled to cope without basic necessities as authorities searched for the missing, and the overall death toll from the storm surpassed 100.52 minutes ago -
Top stories - NBC News
As Helene's death toll rises, frustration with relief efforts also grow
Search, rescue and relief efforts continue four days after Hurricane Helene made landfall. NBC News correspondents George Solis and Guad Venegas are on the ground in North Carolina and Florida, ...30 minutes ago -
Politics - Politico
Congress poised to pass short-term funding bill ahead of campaign’s final stretch
5 days ago -
Business - Financial Times
Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund backs nuclear fuel start-up
Incubation effort comes as Big Tech looks to atomic energy to meet soaring power demand for AI race14 hours ago
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
Harris says she backs legalizing marijuana, going further than Biden
Vice President Harris reaffirmed her support for legalizing marijuana on Monday, speaking up on the issue publicly for the first time she became the Democratic nominee. “I just think we have come ...41 minutes ago - Joe Biden -
Politics - The Hill
Second oil company CEO conspired with OPEC to keep prices high, FTC charges
Federal regulators are alleging a major oil company CEO conspired with foreign governments to keep oil and gas prices high. On Monday, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against John B. ...44 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Why do Republicans fund programs that we want reduced or eliminated?
The continuing resolution (CR) continues funding the construction of a Taj Mahal-like FBI headquarters, surveillance programs on Americans without warrants, DEI offices and DEI training throughout ...48 minutes ago - Republican Party -
Politics - The Hill
Rove: Trump has 'chewed up valuable time talking about inconsequential things'
Republican strategist Karl Rove said former President Trump has wasted time focusing on “inconsequential” issues during his campaign and encouraged the GOP nominee to lead a “more disciplined” race ...56 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
Politics - The Hill
Project 2025 calls for the 'break up' of NOAA, commercialized weather service forecasts
Project 2025, a controversial plan that seeks to inform a future conservative administration, calls for the "break up" of the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA). NOAA houses the ...1 hour ago