Biden asks Congress for $100 billion in massive lame-duck disaster relief request

On Monday, President Joe Biden addressed the request to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA ). The Disaster Relief Fund of the Federal Emergency Management Agency will receive$ 40 billion, and the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan assistance program will receive another$ 2 billion.

In the months following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, White House officials have stressed that those national programs may require prompt replenishment as recovery efforts drag into the new year.

BIDEN TO USE LAME-DUCK SESSION TO’ TRUMP-PROOF’ Tradition

On a phone call from Biden’s Office of Management and Budget chairman Shalanda Young and Deanne Criswell, both of whom spoke to reporters, explained that there is a shared desire to increase further disaster aid.

Three North Carolina politicians, Sens. In a letter to Biden earlier this morning, Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), and Thom Tillis (R-NC ) wrote that they wanted to raise additional hazard money for the Helene and Milton victims. The email was likewise co-signed by four Progressives: Sens. Jon Ossoff (D-GA ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA ), Tim Kaine (D-VA ), and Mark Warner (D-VA ).

Before January when Republicans retake the Senate and President-elect Donald Trump begins his second term, Biden’s request may not necessarily pass Congress in its entirety, especially given GOP worries about FEMA’s discrimination. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY ) rejected Tillis ‘ attempt to pass a bill granting funding for disaster relief on the Senate floor last week.

The Biden administration, however, is remaining positive.

” I’m not surprised that Speaker Johnson, my brother Louisianian, has, in his own thoughts, given people satisfaction that money is on the manner and there’s no room for politics and crisis relief”, Young stated Monday. ” As President Biden has said, there are no Democrats, there are no Republicans when it comes to delivering this pleasure. The Biden-Harris management is prepared to work with lawmakers to provide the essential resources our communities require and require with solid, republican, and legislative support now that Congress is back in session.

According to Criswell, FEMA has spent more than$ 7.5 billion on Milton and Helene relief efforts, making them one of the most expensive natural disaster cleanups in the last 20 years.

” Our company’s mission is to help citizens before, during, and after tragedies, no matter who they are or where they live, and this is more important to the British people now than ever before, and we are fast running out of the money we need to help this quest”, she told reporters. ” We will always prioritize funding for life-saving and life-sustaining activities. FEMA keeps an eye on the daily balances of the DRF ( Disaster Relief Fund ) to see if we need to switch to a funding position that only allows the communities we serve to meet their urgent needs.

Biden’s supplemental request also includes funding for the following departments and organizations:

• Department of Agriculture: &nbsp,$ 24 billion
• Department of Housing and Urban Development: &nbsp,$ 12 billion
• Department of Transportation: &nbsp,$ 8 billion
• Environmental Protection Agency:$ 4 billion
• Department of Health and Human Services: &nbsp,$ 2 billion
• Department of Commerce:$ 2 billion
• Department of Education:$ 1 billion
• Department of Energy: &nbsp,$ 1 billion
• Army Corps of Engineers: &nbsp,$ 500 million
• Department of State: &nbsp,$ 300 million
• Department of Interior: &nbsp,$ 200 million
• Department of Labor: &nbsp,$ 200 million
• Legal Services Corporation: &nbsp,$ 100 million
• AmeriCorps: &nbsp,$ 100 million

After an administration whistleblower claimed that FEMA officials had deliberately avoided reaching out to Florida residents with yard signs supporting Trump earlier this month, Criswell is scheduled to testify before Congress later this week.

Senior administration officials declined to respond to questions about the whistleblower’s claims during Monday’s supplemental request briefing because the Biden administration is conducting an internal investigation.

On Tuesday, Criswell will make an appearance before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

According to the allegations made by whistleblower Marn’i Washington, Florida has sued FEMA.

WASHINGTON EXAMINER CLICK HERE TO ACCESS MORE INFORMATION

As part of a strategy to prevent hostile encounters, FEMA officials told the Washington Examiner in an interview that they had omitted Trump signs from some homes.

Following up on Washington’s claims, The Washington Examiner has requested information from the Department of Homeland Security under the Freedom of Information Act.