4 days Ago
President Biden is requesting nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as other natural disasters, telling lawmakers that the money is "urgently needed." The letter Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson comes as lawmakers meet during a lame-duck session to finish priorities before making way for a new Congress and the incoming Trump administration, the reports. Biden said he has met with those harmed by the storms and heard what residents and businesses needed from the federal government.
"Additional resources are critical to continue to support these communities," the president said. The largest share of the money, about $40 billion, would go to the main disaster relief fund at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The fund helps with debris removal, repairing public infrastructure, and providing financial assistance to survivors.
Biden said the fund would face a shortfall this budget year without an additional infusion. He said that would not only affect the agency's ability to provide lifesaving assistance to survivors, but would also slow recovery efforts from prior disasters..
