Johnson: Congress coming back early for hurricane relief would be ‘premature’
Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that Congress will “do whatever is necessary to cover the needs of the people” after Hurricane Helene and Milton, but that it would be “premature” to come back to Washington now before assessing how much disaster relief is needed.
“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 said during 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 said that money has already been allocated to storm victims to meet their immediate needs and that as of this morning, two percent of those funds had been distributed. But he said as for Congress passing additional resources to rebuild and refund the area, that will first require more calculations. He added that Congress approved $20 billion to FEMA the day before Helene hit.
Congress is currently not scheduled to be back in session until after the election.
Later on the same program, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said that Congress will need to come back to fund FEMA but currently there is enough money for individuals impacted by the hurricanes. But he encouraged Congress to return, especially since more storms could be on the way.
"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 said.
Johnson also said the Biden administration needs to act quicker in getting the current 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 said.
Mayorkas pushed back on claims of delays, saying the Biden administration has already distributed over $470 million in relief to hurricane victims even as it tries to determine who needs help.
“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 said. “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.”
Topics
-
Sports - ABC News
With Maye out, 'soft' Patriots come back to send Rodgers and Jets to 5th straight loss
5 hours ago -
Sports - CBS Sports
2024 World Series: Four things the Yankees need to do to come back from 2-0 deficit to Dodgers
13 hours ago -
Sports - CBS Sports
2024 Week 8 NFL picks, odds, best bets from advanced model: This five-way football parlay pays out 25-1
14 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
8 million student loan borrowers would qualify for relief under Biden 'hardship' rules
2 days ago -
Politics - The Hill
Majorities back early voting, voter verification: Gallup
3 days ago -
Business - MarketWatch
Jobless claims fall again as hurricane effects fade. Layoffs back to very low levels.
3 days ago -
Sports - ABC News
NC State's Grayson McCall gives up football, says he can't come back from latest head injury
4 days ago -
Top stories - The New York Times
Georgia Turned Against the West, and It’s Not Coming Back
5 days ago -
Sports - ABC News
Carolina Hurricanes storm back, beat Edmonton Oilers 3-2 in overtime
5 days ago -
World - ABC News
Cuba fights to come back from a nationwide blackout, then a storm that killed 7
5 days ago -
Business - MarketWatch
Sharp stock selloff in early August might be preview of coming events, IMF warns
5 days ago -
Politics - The Hill
Carville to MSNBC host: 'When the paddy wagon comes, you and I are going to be in the back of it' if Trump wins
5 days ago -
Business - Financial Times
IMF warns of ‘round-tripping’ fears
5 days ago -
Top stories - CBS News
Trump still falsely claiming that FEMA is diverting funds from hurricane relief to help migrants
5 days ago -
World - The Guardian
Trump uses North Carolina visit to reiterate hurricane relief conspiracies
6 days ago -
Politics - The Hill
Trump backs Congress returning from recess to pass hurricane relief
6 days ago -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
USC loses third straight Big Ten game as Maryland comes back for 29-28 victory
October 20 -
Business - MarketWatch
Your parents’ Medicare decisions could come back to haunt you
October 19 -
World - The Guardian
Tottenham dismantle feeble West Ham after bouncing back from early scare
October 19 -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
Dodgers vs. Mets: New York bats come alive in Game 5, sending series back to Los Angeles
October 18 -
Tech - GameSpot
Bryan Cranston Is Coming Back As Walter White In A Wholesome And Unexpected Way
October 18 -
Top stories - CBS News
Bipartisan lawmakers ask Congress to meet early for hurricane aid
October 17 -
Top stories - CBS News
Relief, NC: Hurricane Helene | Sunday on 60 Minutes
October 17 -
Top stories - CBS News
New calls for Congress to return from recess for hurricane relief funding
October 17 -
Politics - The Hill
North Carolina opens up early voting in shadow of Hurricane Helene
October 17 -
Business - Inc.
For Entrepreneurs Hit by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Tax Relief Is Here
October 15 -
Top stories - CBS News
How back-to-back hurricanes could impact insurance rates across the U.S.
October 15 -
Top stories - CBS News
Arrest made in reported threats against FEMA over hurricane relief efforts
October 15 -
Politics - The Hill
Hurricane misinformation hinders relief efforts: DHS head
October 14 -
Sports - CBS Sports
Can Cam Rising return to Utah in 2025? How Utes star QB could come back with eighth year of eligibility
October 14 -
Politics - The Hill
Omarosa backs Harris: Trump losing 'to a woman of color would be devastating to his ego'
October 14 -
Top stories - CBS News
Arrest made after FEMA crews threatened amid hurricane relief efforts
October 14 -
Top stories - CBS News
FBI warning about scams surrounding hurricane relief
October 14 -
World - ABC News
Nile basin nations say water-sharing accord has come into force without Egypt's backing
October 14 -
World - Yahoo News
Nile basin nations say water-sharing accord has come into force without Egypt's backing
October 14 -
Top stories - The New York Times
Biden Visits Florida After Hurricane Milton and Calls for Bipartisan Relief Effort
October 14 -
Top stories - CBS News
Biden announces $600 million for Florida hurricane relief
October 13 -
Top stories - CBS News
Rep. Maxwell Frost says Congress should return "as soon as possible" to replenish relief funds
October 13
More from Politico
-
Politics - Politico
Have Democrats found a way to win over rural America? Look at what's happening in Wisconsin.
21 hours ago -
Politics - Politico
The POLITICO race to watch: Wisconsin Senate
2 days ago -
Politics - Politico
Johnson, McConnell ask Harris to ‘stop escalating the threat environment’ after Trump fascist remarks
2 days ago -
Politics - Politico
The POLITICO race to watch: Alaska House
3 days ago -
Politics - Politico
Why Some Republicans Are Praising An Agency They Hate
3 days ago
Latest in Politics
-
Politics - The Hill
GOP senator, reps denounce comments from Trump rally comedian mocking Puerto Rico
3 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
Harris vows to launch Puerto Rico task force
4 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
Walz and Ocasio-Cortez play video games on Twitch
5 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
5 takeaways from Trump's Madison Square Garden rally
6 hours ago -
Politics - NBC News
Trump says he would let anti-vaccine advocate RFK Jr. 'go wild on health'
6 hours ago