WASHINGTON – The Biden administration is asking Congress to approve nearly $100 billion in emergency funding to help it respond to a series of disasters.
This significant funding request, submitted on Monday, includes $40 billion earmarked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This allocation aims to aid recovery efforts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which wreaked havoc on Florida and other southeastern states back in September and October.
Alongside the assistance for hurricane recovery, some of the requested funds will address other emergencies as well. This includes aiding communities affected by last year’s devastating wildfires in Maui, destructive tornadoes across the Midwest, and the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier this year. Each of these disasters has tested the limits of governmental resources.
White House budget director Shalanda Young emphasized the importance of this relief, stating, “Families, small businesses, neighborhoods and communities are counting on their government to be there for them when they need help the most.” Young’s statement captures the urgency of the situation as various regions struggle to cope with the aftermath of these catastrophic events.
While FEMA currently has sufficient funds to manage recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene and Milton until the end of this year, the agency's Administrator Deanne Criswell warns of dwindling resources. “But the agency is running out of money and won’t have enough to get through the remainder of the fiscal year without additional funding,” Criswell said.
Following last week’s return of Congress to work after the November 5 presidential election, lawmakers will soon have to decide on how to tackle this funding request. They might choose to enact it through standalone legislation or incorporate it as part of their end-of-year spending package.
Young and Criswell are hopeful for bipartisan support on this funding measure. “There are no Democrats, there are no Republicans when it came to delivering this relief,” said Young, emphasizing the notion of unity during crises.
The Biden administration is not only focusing on the immediate disaster relief efforts. The proposed funding package includes $24 billion intended for the Agriculture Department to assist farmers facing crop or livestock losses as a result of the various natural disasters they have endured, including hurricanes, wildfires, and drought. There’s also $12 billion earmarked for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help address damage stemming from both recent hurricanes and past emergencies over the last two years.
Infrastructure repairs are also part of this funding request. The administration is seeking $8 billion for the Transportation Department dedicated to building, repairing, or reconstructing highways, bridges, and roads affected by disasters across more than 40 states.
Small businesses, homeowners, and renters are also on the administration’s radar. An additional $2 billion is proposed for the Small Business Administration to provide low-interest disaster loans, supporting those impacted by such catastrophes.
Overall, the Biden administration’s funding request seeks assistance across 16 departments or agencies, highlighting the widespread need for support and resources as various communities grapple with the physical, economic, and emotional toll of these disasters.
Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS.
