### Speaker Johnson Non-Committal on Emergency Session for Hurricane Helene Aid

House Speaker Mike Johnson refrained from committing to an early congressional session to address potential funding shortages for disaster recovery after Hurricane Helene, despite President Joe Biden's recent push for immediate financial support. In a "Fox News Sunday" interview, Johnson addressed Biden's Friday letter urging Congress to bolster funding for federal disaster efforts, with concerns heightened by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ warning about insufficient funds for the remainder of the hurricane season.

President Biden emphasized the importance of restoring funds to the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program, which already faced funding issues prior to Hurricane Helene’s impact in the Southeast. Though the White House had requested additional funding, the program did not receive sufficient resources in the short-term funding bill passed last month to prevent a government shutdown.

Johnson indicated that Congress is scheduled to reconvene immediately after the election, around 30 days from now. He noted that significant time is often required to accurately assess the full scope of damages from disasters like hurricanes and to identify specific needs. Before its recess, Congress had already allocated an additional $20 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for immediate needs following Hurricane Helene’s landfall in Florida.

"Afterward, Congress always takes the necessary measures to provide what is required," Johnson stated. He assured that federal aid will be forthcoming to those affected by natural disasters, supported by bipartisan efforts.

President Biden hinted last week at possibly requesting Congress for a supplemental funding allocation for the areas affected by Hurricane Helene. While the idea of recalling Congress was left open, no definitive decision had been reached.

Despite Johnson's assurances, there has been controversy over claims by some Republicans that FEMA funds were being diverted to assist migrants entering the country illegally, rather than for disaster response. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre categorically denied these claims on Friday. Johnson acknowledged the distinct funding streams for border control and disaster response at FEMA, reiterating that FEMA’s primary mission is disaster aid, not migrant resettlement.

Johnson criticized the Biden administration, suggesting that taxpayer money was being used to support migrant resettlement through nongovernmental organizations. He expressed Republican dissatisfaction with the current administration's handling of these funds, predicting changes after November 5th with anticipated Republican leadership.

Johnson’s office has not responded to further requests for comment on these issues.