### Biden Administration Requests $100 Billion for Hurricane and Disaster Relief

The Biden administration has submitted an urgent request to Congress for approximately $100 billion in emergency funding to aid communities devastated by hurricanes Helene and Milton, along with other disasters across the country. Lawmakers will spend the upcoming weeks crafting a bipartisan bill to address at least part of this request, aiming to pass it between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Given the looming government shutdown deadline on December 20, disaster aid might be bundled with a spending bill or a broader funding package.

Included in the funding request is $40 billion to replenish the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster relief fund. Additionally, the administration is seeking financial support for over a dozen federal agencies that provide housing aid, transportation infrastructure, farm aid, nutrition assistance, health services, and water system improvements. The proposal also encompasses funding for community development, schools, firefighter wages, and employment support for disaster survivors.

The administration highlighted Speaker Mike Johnson's commitment to a bipartisan approach in ensuring necessary aid reaches affected communities. White House budget director Shalanda Young expressed confidence in achieving strong bipartisan and bicameral support for the disaster aid package. She emphasized the urgency of delivering these funds and downplayed political distractions.

FEMA has indicated that if Congress approves the disaster aid before the December funding deadline, its disaster relief fund should be sufficient to continue recovery efforts, barring any additional major disasters. Meanwhile, the Small Business Administration's disaster loan program has been out of funds for over a month, putting over 10,000 loan offers on hold for homeowners and businesses in need of repair funds or operational expenses.

"This funding is critical not just for small businesses, but also for homeowners, nonprofits, and renters who rely on it for rebuilding," Young stated during a news briefing, stressing the immediate need for replenishing the fund.

Efforts to pass specific legislation for the Small Business Administration faced hurdles last week when Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) proposed a narrow bill to refill the disaster loan program, only to be blocked by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who demanded an amendment to offset the cost with cuts from climate programs funded through the Inflation Reduction Act.

The last comprehensive disaster aid package was passed in 2022. Since then, congressional Republicans have repeatedly dismissed the Biden administration's disaster aid requests, including a $4 billion proposal for Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge last summer and a $56 billion request last year for schools, child care providers, and nutrition assistance.