A group of bipartisan senators from states affected by Hurricane Helene have urged Congress to approve additional resources to assist in the aftermath of the disaster. The senators joined President Joe Biden in calling for possible emergency sessions before Election Day to address the devastation caused by the hurricane, which is estimated to cost tens of billions of dollars. The storm has resulted in at least 144 fatalities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The senators emphasized the urgent need for assistance in their letter to Senate leaders, highlighting the destruction, power outages, flooding, and other challenges faced by their constituents. While Biden has approved disaster declarations for Florida and North Carolina, Congress is not scheduled to reconvene until November 12, prompting calls for a potential session in October to expedite aid.
Despite the possibility of additional funding being requested by Biden for the affected states, House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that the current FEMA funds may be sufficient, as the agency was included in a recent government funding extension. However, this extension only maintains current funding levels and does not provide additional resources for disaster relief programs. Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to inquiries about the situation.
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