WASHINGTON (AP) — 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 as his budget office has not yet approved the supplemental request that would begin the process has published.
Biden also rebuked 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, get a man on his life, help these people,” Biden said, later adding that he did not plan to speak to Trump directly.
Biden criticized Trump and others for saying the $750 payment that people in the hardest-hit areas could receive from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the only support they will receive from the federal government.
“Mr. Trump and all these other people know that it’s a lie to say that this is all they’re going to get. That’s bizarre,” Biden said. “They have to stop this. I mean, that’s how they are Damn un-American the way they talk about this stuff.”
Biden said the public would hold Trump accountable and then told the miniature group of reporters allowed to hear his remarks in person that journalists had better “hold him accountable because you know the truth.”
Helene brought devastation to several states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee And Virginia. More than 230 deaths were reported.
At least 12 deaths were reported after Milton attacked Florida this week.
Trump video
Trump posted a video on social media Thursday aimed at Floridians, saying he was praying for them and that they would receive support if he was elected president. Trump has been in a tough competition in recent weeks with the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Hopefully on January 20th you 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, we will recover and we will come back stronger, bigger and better than ever.”
Trump has repeatedly claimed that FEMA does not have enough funding to support survivors of natural disasters because the money is funneled to non-citizens.
FEMA wrote that this was not true website Designed to address a surge in misinformation and disinformation following the hurricanes.
“No money is being diverted for disaster relief. FEMA’s disaster relief efforts and individual assistance are funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a special fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money was not redirected to other, non-disaster-related efforts.”
Misinformation and disinformation about natural disaster recovery is also spreading through other channels, including social media and podcasts.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said earlier this week She anticipated that combating rumors and lies would become an integral part of natural disaster recovery.
SBA needs funding
In a speech in the South Court auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Biden said the cost of the cleanup would be in the billions of dollars, but declined to give a specific figure for how much emergency funding he would have lawmakers approve.
While FEMA has the wherewithal with about $20 billion in its disaster relief fund, Biden said the Small Business Administration urgently needs emergency money from Congress so it can provide aid to natural disaster survivors.
“As far as the SBA is concerned, it’s pretty much on the sidelines right now,” Biden said. “And I think Congress should come back and deal with the emergencies immediately. They must come back even after the election because total reconstruction will be a long road.”
Congress left Capitol Hill in behind schedule September for a six-week election break and is not expected to return until November 12th.
Numerous legislators the congressional leaders have called bring the two chambers back into session to pass emergency spending legislation.
So far, the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives and the Democratic leadership in the Senate have decided against sending the representatives back to Washington, DC, in part because they have not yet received a request from the Biden administration.
Typically, passage of emergency spending bills in Congress begins after the White House Budget Office sends lawmakers a request to supplement the spending.
That agency, also known as the Office of Management and Budget, has not yet released the request detailing how much additional funding Congress should authorize 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 about when it plans to send the additional spending request to lawmakers.
