WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Thursday called on Congress to end its recess early and return to Capitol Hill to approve emergency funding for hurricane recovery, even though his budget office has not issued an additional request to start the process.
Biden also blasted Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for spreading misinformation about the federal government’s response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, saying it was irresponsible.
“Mr. President Trump, former President Trump, give life sentences, help these people,” Biden said, later adding that he had no plans to speak directly to Trump.
Biden criticized Trump and others for saying that a $750 payment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to residents of the hardest-hit areas would be the only aid they would receive from the federal government.
“Mr. Trump and everyone else knows it’s a lie to suggest that’s all they’re going to get. That’s weird,” Biden said. “They need to stop it. I mean, they’re damn un-American in the way they talk about this stuff.
Biden said the public would hold Trump accountable, then told a tiny group of reporters who could hear his remarks in person that journalists better “hold him accountable because you know the truth.”
Helene brought destruction to many states, including: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee AND Virginia. Over 230 deaths have been reported.
At least 12 deaths were reported after Milton hit Florida this week.
A movie with Trump
Trump posted a video to Floridians on social media on Thursday, saying he was praying for them and that they would receive aid if he was elected president. Trump is in the final weeks of a tight race with Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“I hope that on January 20 you will have someone who will really help you and help you like never before because help is on the way,” Trump said. “Together we will rebuild, recover and come back stronger, bigger and better than ever before.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed that FEMA does not have enough resources to aid disaster survivors because the money is directed to foreigners.
FEMA wrote that this was not true, on website to address the augment in misinformation and disinformation in the wake of hurricanes.
“No money is allocated for disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response and individual assistance efforts are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a fund set aside for disaster-related activities. Money from the Disaster Relief Fund was not diverted to other non-disaster related activities.
Disinformation and disinformation about disaster recovery also spreads through other channels, including social media and podcasts.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell he said earlier this week expected that combating rumors and lies would become a constant part of disaster relief.
The SBA needs funds
In a speech at the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Building, Biden said the cost of repairs would be in the billions of dollars, but declined to say specifically how much emergency funding he would ask lawmakers to approve.
While FEMA currently has the needed funding, amounting to about $20 billion in its disaster relief fund, Biden said the Small Business Administration urgently needs emergency appropriations from Congress to be able to provide assistance to disaster survivors.
“As far as the SBA is concerned, it is on the brink right now,” Biden said. “And I think Congress should come back and address emergency needs immediately. They will also have to come back after the elections because the complete reconstruction will take a long time.”
Congress left the Capitol in delayed September for a six-week recess for elections and is not scheduled to return until November 12.
Many lawmakers called on Congress leaders to call both houses back into session to approve emergency spending legislation.
So far, House Republican leaders and Senate Democratic leaders have opted not to call lawmakers back to Washington, in part because they have not yet received a request from the Biden administration.
Typically, Congress begins considering emergency spending bills after the White House budget office sends a request for additional spending to lawmakers.
The agency, also known as the Office of Management and Budget, has not yet released a proposal that will detail how much additional funding it would like Congress to approve for various agencies such as the Small Business Administration and FEMA.
The Office of Management and Budget did not respond to a request from States Newsroom asking when it planned to send the additional spending request to lawmakers.
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