Twelve bipartisan senators representing states affected by Hurricane Helene are urging Congress to approve additional resources for cleanup efforts. They are also supporting President Biden’s call for an emergency session before Election Day to address the devastation caused by the storm. The senators, from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia, estimate the damage to be in the tens of billions of dollars.
The storm has resulted in the deaths of at least 144 people and left hundreds missing. Lawmakers from the affected states are pushing for Congress to reconvene and approve more funds to help with recovery efforts. President Biden has declared disaster declarations for Florida and North Carolina and hinted at requesting additional funding from Congress.
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that the current FEMA funding extension, which includes $20 billion for the agency, may be sufficient to address the aftermath of the storm. This extension simply maintains current funding levels rather than providing additional funds for disaster relief programs.
Despite this, the senators are urging Congress to reconvene to ensure that enough resources are available to help their constituents recover from the historic storm. Schumer’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
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