The Biden administration has requested $98.4 billion in emergency spending from Congress to aid in the response and recovery efforts following devastating natural disasters, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Agriculture would receive the majority of the funding if approved. The funding would address a range of disasters across the country, from wildfires in Maui to tornados in the Midwest.
FEMA has already allocated over $7.5 billion for Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with a total of $40 billion requested for disaster relief. Additionally, the funding request includes support for farmers, housing, transportation, healthcare, and education among other areas. Congressional committees are holding hearings this week to examine the administration’s response to the disasters and assess the supplemental spending request.
Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray is urging her colleagues to quickly approve the emergency spending bill to assist communities in rebuilding and recovering from the widespread damage. The House and Senate Appropriations committees will work together to draft the supplemental spending bill, addressing the urgent needs of communities across the country facing natural disasters.
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