Biden seeks nearly $100 billion in emergency aid after Hurricanes Helene, Milton

WASHINGTON — 

President Joe Biden is requesting astir $100 cardinal successful exigency catastrophe assistance aft Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and different earthy disasters, telling lawmakers that the wealth is "urgently needed."

The missive Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson comes arsenic lawmakers conscionable during a lame-duck league to decorativeness cardinal priorities earlier making mode for a caller Congress and the incoming Trump administration. Biden said helium has met firsthand with those harmed by the storms and helium heard what residents and businesses needed from the national government.

"Additional resources are captious to proceed to enactment these communities," Biden said.

The largest stock of the money, astir $40 billion, would spell to the main catastrophe alleviation money astatine the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Biden said the money would look a shortfall this fund twelvemonth without further money. He said that would not lone impact the agency's quality to supply lifesaving assistance to survivors, but besides would dilatory betterment efforts from anterior disasters.

An further $24 cardinal would assistance farmers that person experienced harvest oregon livestock losses, and $12 cardinal would spell toward assemblage improvement artifact grants administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Some $8 cardinal much would assistance rebuild and repair highways and bridges successful much than 40 states and territories. The medication is besides seeking $4 cardinal for semipermanent h2o strategy upgrades to mitigate aboriginal harm from earthy disasters. Several different agencies would besides person exigency funds if Congress agrees to the request.

Lawmakers were expecting a hefty fig from the administration. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said Congress volition measure the petition and "we'll marque definite we present for the hurricane victims and the radical that person suffered from that."

The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to perceive Wednesday from the heads of respective of the authorities agencies that would person backing done Biden's request. It's imaginable that exigency assistance could beryllium attached to immoderate spending measure designed to support national agencies operating aft existent backing expires Dec. 20.

Biden noted that Congress had provided much than $90 cardinal successful assistance aft Hurricane Katrina astir 2 decades ago, and much than $50 cardinal aft Hurricane Sandy successful 2013. He urged Congress to instrumentality "immediate action."

"Just arsenic the Congress acted then, it is our sworn work present to present the indispensable resources to guarantee that everyone successful communities reeling from Hurricanes Helene and Milton — and those inactive recovering from erstwhile disasters — person the Federal resources they request and deserve," Biden wrote.