Statement comes as president urges Congress to pass disaster-relief package as costs soar amid devastation
Joe Biden is urging lawmakers to refill the coffers of disaster relief programs as the projected recovery and rebuilding costs related to Hurricane Helene are estimated to be as much as $200bn over 10 years.
In a letter sent to congressional leaders, the president said while the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) and the Department of Defense is able to meet “critical life-saving and life-sustaining missions and will continue to do so within present funding levels”, they will need additional funding.
Biden said that a comprehensive disaster relief package would be necessary when Congress returns on 12 November – but said action on individual programs could be needed before then. But there are currently no plans for Congress to reconvene before the election.
The issue of Helene costs is already deeply political. The Republican House speaker, Mike Johnson, has said lawmakers would assess the post-Helene needs in full after the election.
can't be letting the democrat-led administration notch a 'win' before election day.. even if helene's faucet was turned-on over mostly 'red' states and regions.
So... is this going to be "get Trump elected by not doing this and making the Biden administration look bad" or "cover your own ass so you'll get re-elected?"