Biden Administration Calls on Congress to Put Politics Aside and Greenlight $100B Disaster Relief Package

The Biden administration has called on lawmakers to prioritize public safety over politics as it presented a comprehensive funding proposal designed to enhance federal disaster recovery efforts nationwide. This emergency funding request includes aid for recovery from recent disasters, notably Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which severely impacted the Southeast in early fall.

In addition to support for these hurricanes, the funding would assist in recovering from other significant events, such as the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires and the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young emphasized the importance of reassuring affected communities that they have not been forgotten.

If Congress approves this plan, it could unlock approximately $98 billion for various federal agencies involved in disaster relief. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would receive nearly half of this funding, around $40 billion, to cover anticipated disaster costs for the upcoming fiscal year. The Agriculture Department is also slated to receive about $12 billion to support farmers impacted by natural disasters, fund wilderness firefighting efforts, and bolster food assistance programs.

According to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, recovery efforts for Helene and Milton are among the most extensive the agency has undertaken in the last two decades. While FEMA currently has sufficient funds to support hurricane relief through the end of this fiscal year, Criswell warned that the agency would face financial challenges moving into the 2025 fiscal year without additional funding.

“Additional funding is needed to ensure that we can support communities and achieve our mission,” she stated. The proposed funding would also include around $2 billion for low-interest disaster loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA), which has almost exhausted its current funds. President Biden highlighted the urgency of this request in a letter to lawmakers, noting that the SBA has already received over 100,000 loan applications following recent disasters.

Biden emphasized the crucial role of these loans for local businesses, individual survivors, and their efforts to rebuild and recover from damage. He urged Congress to reach a bipartisan consensus on disaster relief funding, stating, “There’s no room for politics in disaster relief.”

The administration recalled the collaboration seen in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, when legislators from both parties united to pass comprehensive disaster aid. Despite some hesitance within the Republican-controlled House regarding increased government spending, House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated a willingness to facilitate action on disaster funding needs.

As lawmakers prepare for their upcoming session, the administration aims for swift passage of the proposed aid package, though it has not specified whether it should be included as a separate bill or within a broader government funding measure. With a short-term budget bill expiring at year’s end, Congress faces the potential for a continuing resolution that could maintain current funding levels into the next administration.