Senator Rick Scott of Florida has called for an immediate reconvening of the Senate to address the catastrophic damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
Fox News reported that Scott is urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring the chamber back into session as soon as damage assessments are completed.
Scott's statement highlighted the importance of passing a clean supplemental disaster funding bill and other relief measures, such as his proposed Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act. Senator Scott said:
While I know from my experience with previous hurricanes that FEMA and SBA damage assessments take time, I am today urging Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to immediately reconvene the U.S. Senate when those assessments are completed so that we can pass the clean supplemental disaster funding bill and other disaster relief legislation, like my Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, needed to ensure the full recovery of families in all impacted communities.
President Joe Biden has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida, following a request from Senators Scott and Marco Rubio. This approval came shortly after the two Florida senators sent a letter to the President urging immediate action.
The declaration follows last week's approval of Florida's request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for potentially impacted counties. These swift approvals demonstrate the federal government's recognition of the storm's severity and the need for rapid response.
The interim spending bill, which was passed to avoid a government shutdown, had anticipated the possibility of Hurricane Helene's impact. This foresight allowed lawmakers to ensure that FEMA could quickly access its current reserves to address immediate needs in the storm's aftermath.
A senior House Republican source indicated that lawmakers might need to return to Washington to approve additional funds for hurricane response. The source emphasized the unprecedented scale of destruction, comparing the situation in Western North Carolina to that of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
While some believe that immediate action may not be necessary within the next month, others are not ruling out the possibility of an emergency session. The last time Congress was recalled for such a purpose was in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
One of the key concerns is whether FEMA has sufficient funds in the short term to address the catastrophic impact of Helene. The recent interim spending bill granted FEMA authority to draw down the Disaster Relief Fund more rapidly, but questions remain about the fund's capacity to handle the current crisis.
The situation with Hurricane Helene has brought to light ongoing issues with disaster relief funding. Congress left for recess without providing adequate relief for several "older" natural disasters, including Hurricane Beryl in Texas, tornadoes in Iowa, and wildfires in Hawaii.
Some lawmakers had pushed for additional disaster aid to be included in the recent interim spending bill. However, the focus has now shifted to the immediate needs created by Hurricane Helene and the potential for future storms in the Gulf of Mexico.
A source familiar with congressional spending practices noted that a clearer picture of the funding needs will likely emerge later this week. The possibility of FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund being depleted too quickly remains a significant concern, especially if another major storm were to hit.
Hurricane Helene has caused unprecedented damage, particularly in North Carolina. Senator Rick Scott is calling for an immediate reconvening of the Senate to address disaster relief funding. President Biden has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida. The situation highlights ongoing issues with disaster relief funding and the potential need for emergency congressional action.
