House Speaker Mike Johnson did not commit to calling Congress back into session before the election following President Joe Biden’s request for more funding for disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Helene. Biden asked Congress to restore funding to the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program, which was facing potential shortfalls even before the hurricane hit. Johnson stated that Congress will reconvene immediately after the election, as it takes time to assess the damages from natural disasters and determine specific needs. He assured that Congress has already appropriated $20 billion to FEMA for immediate needs. Biden mentioned the possibility of requesting a supplemental funding request for areas affected by the hurricane and did not rule out calling Congress back into session. Johnson also addressed false claims by some Republicans that FEMA funds were being used on migrants instead of disaster response, stating that FEMA’s mission is to help those affected by natural disasters. He accused the Biden administration of using taxpayer dollars to assist migrants with resettlement, a claim that has been refuted. Johnson asserted that Republicans will bring “sanity” back to the situation after the election. It is important to note that Congress has acted swiftly on disaster relief funding in the past, even while on recess.
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