House Speaker Mike Johnson did not commit to calling Congress back into session before the election to address potential funding shortfalls after Hurricane Helene. President Joe Biden had requested more money for disaster recovery efforts, including restoring funding to the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program. Johnson indicated that Congress will reconvene after the election, as it takes time to assess damages from natural disasters. He noted that Congress had already allocated $20 billion to FEMA before the hurricane hit, and he assured that Congress will provide the necessary support for disaster-prone areas in due time.
Biden had indicated that he may request supplemental funding from Congress for areas affected by the hurricane, but Johnson did not confirm whether Congress would return from recess for a special session. Johnson also addressed false claims by some Republicans that FEMA funds were being used on migrants instead of disaster response, pointing out that the funding streams are separate. He criticized the Biden administration for allegedly using taxpayer dollars to assist migrants with resettlement, but did not provide evidence to support his claims.
Overall, Johnson emphasized the federal government’s role in providing assistance to those affected by natural disasters, and expressed confidence that Congress would address the funding needs for disaster relief. Despite the political tensions surrounding the issue, Johnson insisted that Republicans in Congress will work to bring sanity back to the situation after the election.
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