Congress may be called back from recess to approve emergency spending for Hurricane Helene recovery and response before the upcoming election. President Joe Biden is considering asking Congress to return sooner to address the urgent need for funding. The decision will ultimately be up to Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The death toll has surpassed 100 across six states, with two million people without power and many lacking essential services. Senator Rick Scott has urged Schumer to reconvene the Senate to pass necessary funding legislation once assessments are completed.
The White House is in the process of determining the supplemental spending request, which could take weeks. It is likely that Congress will return to work on November 12th to consider emergency funding, possibly attached to overdue government funding bills.
FEMA has the ability to spend as needed for disaster recovery, thanks to a provision approved by Congress. The agency can use immediate needs funding as a safety net when funds run low. Previous pleas for additional funding for natural disasters were not approved by a divided Congress.
The Biden administration is expected to send a new supplemental spending request to Congress in the coming weeks, building off previous requests. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed disappointment that previous requests were not approved and urged Congress to act swiftly.
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