A group of House Republicans is advocating for a significant change in how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages its funds. The aim is to expedite aid for communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Representative Gary Palmer from Alabama, who heads the House GOP Policy Committee, is spearheading a new proposal that would reallocate unused funds from the COVID-19 response and from past disaster relief efforts, including those from Hurricane Katrina, into FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund.
This initiative comes just before the House Oversight Committee plans to conduct a critical hearing regarding claims that FEMA’s assistance has been affected by political bias. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, highlighted concerns over reports suggesting that a FEMA official discouraged aid workers from helping homes that displayed support for former President Donald Trump.
Comer stated, “Millions of Americans were impacted by devastating hurricanes, and many are still seeking assistance from FEMA. It’s unacceptable that actions like this could occur within the agency, suggesting it might not be an isolated incident.”
Palmer’s bill enjoys backing from a diverse group of Republican lawmakers, ranging from more conservative members in the House Freedom Caucus to more centrist representatives. This reflects a unified effort within the party to find effective solutions for FEMA’s funding challenges and ensure timely assistance to disaster-stricken areas.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has indicated that her agency will need an additional $40 billion beyond the budget request for 2025 to adequately support recovery efforts following recent storms. Furthermore, the White House has requested Congress to approve $98 billion in additional disaster relief funding.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress have assured that they will work quickly to respond to an official funding request from the Biden administration. The recent devastation from Hurricane Helene has severely impacted the Southeast, resulting in over 100 fatalities in North Carolina alone and causing an estimated billions in damages. House Speaker Mike Johnson has commented that this disaster could potentially rank among the costliest storms in U.S. history.
