House Speaker Mike Johnson has firmly dismissed the idea that Congress should reconvene to approve additional funding for hurricane relief efforts, asserting that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) possesses sufficient funds for the current needs.
During a discussion on CBS' "Face the Nation" this Sunday with host Margaret Brennan, Johnson addressed calls from both political parties urging Congress to end its recess early. He referenced a recent allocation of $20 billion to FEMA made just before Hurricane Helene's devastating landfall, which significantly impacted North Carolina—a state represented by Senator Tillis—among others.
Johnson emphasized that a mere fraction of these funds has been deployed thus far, underscoring his point that FEMA has yet to effectively utilize the resources at its disposal. He criticized FEMA for its perceived inefficiency, stating, "We need FEMA to do its job," and highlighted the process in which states assess damage post-storm and then request further assistance from Congress based on those assessments.
The conversation took a turn when Brennan pointed out FEMA director's statement indicating that around $9 billion of Congress's financial package had already been expended. Johnson clarified that while funds have indeed been obligated, actual distribution remains low, with ongoing rescue and recovery efforts taking precedence.
Amidst this debate lies a broader controversy involving U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and misleading claims propagated by former President Trump and his supporters regarding the misuse of hurricane relief funds for migrant care—an accusation firmly refuted by factual evidence.
Johnson also touched upon the procedural intricacies of disaster funding, stressing that Congress cannot allocate resources based solely on speculative damage estimates. He reassured that ample funding was provided to FEMA prior to Hurricane Helene's impact, countering Mayorkas' earlier statements suggesting an urgent need for additional Congressional action due to insufficient funds for the remainder of the hurricane season.
This unfolding situation reflects not only on FEMA's response capabilities but also on the political complexities surrounding disaster management and funding—issues that remain at the forefront as communities strive to recover in Hurricane Helene's aftermath.
During a discussion on CBS' "Face the Nation" this Sunday with host Margaret Brennan, Johnson addressed calls from both political parties urging Congress to end its recess early. He referenced a recent allocation of $20 billion to FEMA made just before Hurricane Helene's devastating landfall, which significantly impacted North Carolina—a state represented by Senator Tillis—among others.
Johnson emphasized that a mere fraction of these funds has been deployed thus far, underscoring his point that FEMA has yet to effectively utilize the resources at its disposal. He criticized FEMA for its perceived inefficiency, stating, "We need FEMA to do its job," and highlighted the process in which states assess damage post-storm and then request further assistance from Congress based on those assessments.
The conversation took a turn when Brennan pointed out FEMA director's statement indicating that around $9 billion of Congress's financial package had already been expended. Johnson clarified that while funds have indeed been obligated, actual distribution remains low, with ongoing rescue and recovery efforts taking precedence.
Amidst this debate lies a broader controversy involving U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and misleading claims propagated by former President Trump and his supporters regarding the misuse of hurricane relief funds for migrant care—an accusation firmly refuted by factual evidence.
Johnson also touched upon the procedural intricacies of disaster funding, stressing that Congress cannot allocate resources based solely on speculative damage estimates. He reassured that ample funding was provided to FEMA prior to Hurricane Helene's impact, countering Mayorkas' earlier statements suggesting an urgent need for additional Congressional action due to insufficient funds for the remainder of the hurricane season.
This unfolding situation reflects not only on FEMA's response capabilities but also on the political complexities surrounding disaster management and funding—issues that remain at the forefront as communities strive to recover in Hurricane Helene's aftermath.
