Biden Says Congress ‘may have to’ Reconvene to Approve Disaster Funding
The president stood by his actions regarding the response to the hurricane.
TroibNews 
President Joe Biden announced Monday that he may request Congress to return early from its preelection recess to secure supplemental disaster funding aimed at addressing the “broad and devastating impacts” of Hurricane Helene.
“That is something I may have to request,” Biden stated during brief remarks at the White House. While he has not yet determined the specific amount he would seek, he emphasized that “no decision has been made yet.”
In addition, Biden indicated that he anticipates traveling to North Carolina as early as Wednesday or Thursday, with plans contingent on ensuring that a presidential visit would not disrupt ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
Having spent part of the weekend at his Delaware beach house, Biden defended both his and Vice President Kamala Harris’ locations during the storm, asserting that he is capable of working from anywhere. “I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday and the day before as well. I was commanding. It’s called a telephone,” he responded to a reporter’s inquiry about their absence from Washington.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Biden and Harris on Sunday for their lack of presence in Washington over the weekend and their delayed visit to the storm-impacted region. He accused Biden of “sleeping” at his beach house, implying a lack of focus on recovery efforts, and took issue with Harris for engaging in fundraising and campaigning in California and Nevada.
In line with his efforts to depict the Biden administration as ineffective in responding to the significant storm, Trump is scheduled to visit Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday afternoon for a briefing on the damage and to distribute relief supplies.
At the White House, Biden reaffirmed the commitment of the federal government to bolster resources in affected areas. “Homes and businesses have washed away in an instant. I want them to know we’re not leaving until the job is done,” he remarked, adding, “I’m committed to traveling in impacted areas as soon as possible, but I’ve been told that it’d be disruptive if I did it right now. We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any, any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis. My first responsibility is to get all the help needed to those impacted areas.”
When asked if he believed Trump’s upcoming visit to the region would be disruptive, Biden responded, “I don’t have any idea.”
Biden's FEMA chief has indicated that the current financial reserves are sufficient for the time being. “We absolutely have enough resources from across the federal family,” administrator Deanne Criswell said over the weekend on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Following the recent government funding patch that Congress approved, the nation’s disaster relief fund now stands at approximately $20 billion. Criswell estimated that this funding will adequately support disaster response and recovery efforts across the country through early January.
However, Criswell warned that if Congress does not pass an emergency disaster aid bill in the upcoming months, FEMA may need to begin conserving cash by reducing payments for non-essential work while continuing to allocate funds for critical needs starting in January.
After Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday night, it wreaked havoc throughout the Southeast, unleashing heavy rain and causing unprecedented flooding and mudslides. The storm severely impacted western North Carolina and rural areas of Tennessee and Georgia, completely destroying some homes and leaving thousands without access to food, water, or power.
Biden shared that more than 100 individuals have died, with about 600 people still unaccounted for, partly due to cell service disruptions making it challenging for families to connect. “Communities are devastated. Loved ones waiting, not sure if their loved ones are okay,” Biden stated. “There’s nothing like wondering, ‘Is my husband, wife, son, daughter, mother, father alive?’”
Biden disclosed that over the weekend he had several phone conversations with leaders from affected regions, including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
“That is something I may have to request,” Biden stated during brief remarks at the White House. While he has not yet determined the specific amount he would seek, he emphasized that “no decision has been made yet.”
In addition, Biden indicated that he anticipates traveling to North Carolina as early as Wednesday or Thursday, with plans contingent on ensuring that a presidential visit would not disrupt ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
Having spent part of the weekend at his Delaware beach house, Biden defended both his and Vice President Kamala Harris’ locations during the storm, asserting that he is capable of working from anywhere. “I was on the phone for at least two hours yesterday and the day before as well. I was commanding. It’s called a telephone,” he responded to a reporter’s inquiry about their absence from Washington.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Biden and Harris on Sunday for their lack of presence in Washington over the weekend and their delayed visit to the storm-impacted region. He accused Biden of “sleeping” at his beach house, implying a lack of focus on recovery efforts, and took issue with Harris for engaging in fundraising and campaigning in California and Nevada.
In line with his efforts to depict the Biden administration as ineffective in responding to the significant storm, Trump is scheduled to visit Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday afternoon for a briefing on the damage and to distribute relief supplies.
At the White House, Biden reaffirmed the commitment of the federal government to bolster resources in affected areas. “Homes and businesses have washed away in an instant. I want them to know we’re not leaving until the job is done,” he remarked, adding, “I’m committed to traveling in impacted areas as soon as possible, but I’ve been told that it’d be disruptive if I did it right now. We will not do that at the risk of diverting or delaying any, any of the response assets needed to deal with this crisis. My first responsibility is to get all the help needed to those impacted areas.”
When asked if he believed Trump’s upcoming visit to the region would be disruptive, Biden responded, “I don’t have any idea.”
Biden's FEMA chief has indicated that the current financial reserves are sufficient for the time being. “We absolutely have enough resources from across the federal family,” administrator Deanne Criswell said over the weekend on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Following the recent government funding patch that Congress approved, the nation’s disaster relief fund now stands at approximately $20 billion. Criswell estimated that this funding will adequately support disaster response and recovery efforts across the country through early January.
However, Criswell warned that if Congress does not pass an emergency disaster aid bill in the upcoming months, FEMA may need to begin conserving cash by reducing payments for non-essential work while continuing to allocate funds for critical needs starting in January.
After Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday night, it wreaked havoc throughout the Southeast, unleashing heavy rain and causing unprecedented flooding and mudslides. The storm severely impacted western North Carolina and rural areas of Tennessee and Georgia, completely destroying some homes and leaving thousands without access to food, water, or power.
Biden shared that more than 100 individuals have died, with about 600 people still unaccounted for, partly due to cell service disruptions making it challenging for families to connect. “Communities are devastated. Loved ones waiting, not sure if their loved ones are okay,” Biden stated. “There’s nothing like wondering, ‘Is my husband, wife, son, daughter, mother, father alive?’”
Biden disclosed that over the weekend he had several phone conversations with leaders from affected regions, including Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
