Former President Trump expressed support for Congress to reconvene earlier than scheduled in order to provide additional aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
During his visit to Asheville, North Carolina, where he surveyed the aftermath of a storm, President Trump expressed his support for a particular course of action. In response to a question from reporters, he stated, “I would be in favor of it, yeah. This is a very unusual situation, and I would be in favor of it.” Trump’s statement indicates his willingness to endorse a proposed solution or plan in light of the unique circumstances at hand.
Members from both parties have recently urged congressional leadership to end their recess early and approve additional funding for FEMA’s disaster relief fund. The Biden administration has acknowledged that while there is sufficient funding for the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the fund is depleting rapidly.
Congress went on recess in late September, and it is anticipated that the House and Senate will not reconvene until November 12th, following Election Day.
President Biden indicated that it might be necessary for Congress to reconvene ahead of schedule in order to approve additional funding.
Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina while lawmakers were on recess, resulting in the tragic loss of over 200 lives and causing severe destruction. Recently, Hurricane Milton struck certain areas of Florida, inflicting significant damage and claiming multiple lives.