Business

President Biden is urging Congress to approve more funding for disaster relief programs as states like Florida begin the long and costly process of recovery following Hurricanes Milton and Helene.In White House remarks, Biden called on lawmakers to approve more funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration, offering aid for small businesses to rebuild.”It’s going to take several billion dollars. It’s not going to be a matter of just a little bit,” President Biden said Thursday. “Congress should move as rapidly as they can, particularly on the most immediate need, which is small business.”Biden isn’t alone. Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott echoed Biden, suggesting lawmakers return before the election to address disaster funding, particularly with the SBA. So far, there’s been no indication from House and Senate leadership on taking action until after the election.”FEMA needs to be fully funded, the SBA needs to be fully funded, the and the Department of Agriculture and any other federal agency that does disaster relief,” Scott said. However, with recovery underway, FEMA insists it has enough money and manpower to help storm victims and their immediate needs.”We’ve done multiple catastrophic events like this in the past. That’s why we have a layered approach to our staffing, and we plan for this,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “We moved resources from some of our non life-threatening, open operations to be able to support what was going to potentially be needed in Milton.”FEMA is also assuring that other immediate needs, including $750 in disaster payments, will be the first of many in federal assistance.”That is the first type of assistance that people impacted by a storm like this can get access to for upfront things they might need, like food, water, diapers, etc.,” FEMA acting Director of Response and Recovery Keith Turi said. “After that, there are opportunities to get additional assistance.”In addition to his remarks, President Biden called out former President Donald Trump for spreading misleading and false claims about the government’s response. Trump criticized the federal government in a speech Thursday, saying a lot of people, especially those in North Carolina, suffered “unjustly” after Helene.Biden told reporters Trump should “get a life” and that he does not plan on speaking with him about the misinformation.At a separate event, Vice President Harris also touched on the issue, saying the claim that support will only go to certain people based on their political affiliation is “just not accurate” and that federal and local governments are working hand-in-hand.Following an afternoon briefing, President Biden will give an update on the federal government’s response to hurricanes Milton and Helene Friday. Vice President Harris will attend virtually.