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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced that Congress had already authorized the necessary disaster relief funds for FEMA to respond to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.

Let’s bring you up to speed: On Monday, President Biden indicated that additional funding might be necessary to address the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, suggesting that he may request Congress to return early from recess to pass a supplemental relief bill. When asked by reporters if Congress would need to approve additional funds to help those impacted, Biden said, “That is something I may have to request, but no decisions are made yet.”

What the Speaker is saying: In a statement, Speaker Johnson said, “Congress has previously provided the funds it [FEMA] needs to respond, so we will make sure that those resources are appropriately allocated.” He added, “I received updates on the latest recovery and rescue efforts, and we’ll be working with our members, with FEMA, with state and local emergency management, to help address the many needs that are out there. This is going to go on for some time.”

Bipartisanship: Two congressional lawmakers from opposing sides of the political aisle, Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) and Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), have proposed a bill allocating an additional $10 billion to FEMA and $5 billion to HUD for relief efforts to assist those impacted by the hurricane. Both lawmakers have also called for Congress to return from recess to address the hurricane’s damage.