Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Monday called on the Senate to “immediately reconvene” once the damage assessment is complete so that lawmakers can consider emergency relief measures for the damage caused by Hurricane Helen.
“Floridians are resilient, but our response and recovery from this storm will require the full and immediate support of government at all levels to get families and businesses back on track,” Scott said in a statement. ” he said.
“I know from past hurricane experience that FEMA and SBA damage assessments take time, but today I want to reassure House Secretary Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.) that those assessments are time-consuming. Once completed, we urge the U.S. Senate to reconvene and pass the bill, including a clean disaster assistance funding bill and federal disaster tax relief to ensure a full recovery for families in all affected communities. We needed other disaster relief laws like the Act.”
The Hill has reached out to Schumer's office for comment.
Scott, a former Florida governor,'s statement comes as authorities put the death toll from the current storm at more than 120 and as rescue efforts continue in hard-hit areas. , this number is likely to increase further in the coming days. such as North Carolina and Florida.
President Biden said Monday he plans to request an additional funding bill for relief, leaving open the possibility of asking Congress to return early from its October recess.
“That may be something I have to request, but no decision has been made yet,” Biden said when asked about the issue Monday morning.
Congress passed a nearly three-month stopgap measure last week that excluded $10 billion in additional funding to the FEMA disaster relief fund that was included in House Republicans' original six-month plan to avert a government shutdown.
But it would allow the agency to use the fund's resources more quickly for about three months of disaster response.
