Sun Oct 13 11:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Biden Urges Congress for Disaster Funding Amid Hurricane Devastation
**WASHINGTON (AP)** – President Joe Biden will visit Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sunday to survey the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton, pressing for additional emergency disaster funding from Congress. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris will continue her outreach efforts in North Carolina, hard-hit by Hurricane Helene, attending a Black church service and holding a campaign rally.
Biden’s Florida visit comes as he demands more funding from Congress to address the aftermath of both hurricanes. The President has criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson for delaying action on the issue until after the November 5 election, asserting that “Speaker Johnson is going to get the message that he’s got to step up, particularly for small businesses.” Biden has also announced $612 million in funding for six Department of Energy projects in areas affected by the hurricanes to improve electric grid resilience.
Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has been active in North Carolina, meeting with Black elected officials and religious leaders in Raleigh and volunteering to package aid for Helene victims. She will spend Sunday in Greenville, speaking at a church service as part of her campaign’s “Souls to the Polls” initiative aimed at increasing Black voter turnout.
The hurricanes have injected a new dimension into the presidential race, with less than four weeks until Election Day. While Biden and Harris have emphasized the federal response, Republican nominee Donald Trump has criticized their efforts, particularly in North Carolina. Trump has spread false claims about the government’s response, which Biden has refuted.
With FEMA warning of insufficient funds to address the ongoing hurricane season, Biden is pushing for swift action by Congress to ensure the Small Business Administration and FEMA have the necessary resources. He has estimated Hurricane Milton alone caused $50 billion in damages.
Tensions have also risen between Harris and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regarding the federal storm response. DeSantis has dismissed Harris’ concerns about politicization, while the Vice President’s office has suggested DeSantis is avoiding her calls. Despite these tensions, Biden expressed optimism about his meeting with DeSantis on Sunday.
Biden’s Florida visit will include an aerial tour of the damage and briefings from federal, state, and local officials. He will also meet with residents and first responders.
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm, killing at least 10 people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Officials credit widespread evacuations, likely influenced by the recent devastation from Helene, for mitigating the potential for even greater loss of life.
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