According to Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, Congress should promptly reconvene to replenish the funds for disaster relief. Waiting until November 12, when Congress is scheduled to reconvene, is not ideal, and action should be taken as soon as possible.
During an interview on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Frost emphasized the importance of not waiting until November 12th to provide resources to FEMA.
He expressed the need for the agency to have more than what is required to effectively handle current operations and be prepared for any unforeseen natural disasters or storms.
In late September, a short-term spending bill was passed by Congress, granting FEMA the authority to tap into the agency’s fiscal year 2025 resources earlier.
This move allowed them to access $20 billion from their disaster relief fund. However, the stopgap spending bill did not include the billions of dollars that the White House Office of Management and Budget had requested for ongoing recovery efforts.
Hurricane Helene hit Florida’s Big Bend region on September 26th, causing destructive floods in Tennessee and North Carolina. Shortly after, Hurricane Milton made a powerful impact on Florida’s Siesta Key, less than two weeks later.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell mentioned on Wednesday that the agency is currently capable of providing assistance to all those affected by the hurricanes Helene and Milton. However, she acknowledged that the agency anticipates requiring further financial resources in the future.
A bipartisan group of senators has joined forces and signed a letter, urging Senate leaders to reconvene and bring lawmakers back into session.
They emphasized the importance of taking immediate action, stating that it may even be necessary for Congress to return in October to ensure enough time for enacting crucial legislation before the end of this calendar year.
In a similar vein, House lawmakers have also expressed their concerns by sending a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, requesting that the House reconvene and allocate additional disaster relief aid.
During an appearance on “Face the Nation,” Johnson reassured that FEMA has sufficient funding to sustain its operations until Congress reconvenes in November.
Frost made the case on Sunday for Congress to take proactive measures in providing additional disaster funding, rather than waiting until further damage is incurred during this year’s devastating hurricane season.
According to Frost, it is important to acknowledge that while FEMA has the necessary resources to address the current situation, it is crucial to consider the predictions made by NOAA and the severity of this hurricane season.
He emphasized that this season is far from over and will continue until the end of November. Frost questioned the logic of leaving things to chance when it is within our power to ensure that FEMA has the resources it requires.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas added his voice to the call for action on the unprecedented hurricane season during his appearance on “Face the Nation” on Sunday. He emphasized the urgent need for Congress to respond appropriately.
Congress must take immediate action to provide funding for FEMA and its Disaster Relief Fund. The urgency arises from the fact that hurricane season is still ongoing, and the impact of climate change has made the seasons less significant. As a result, we are witnessing a rise in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events.