President Joe Biden visited storm-damaged Florida and announced over $600 million in funds for states affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with nearly $100 million going towards improvements to Florida’s power system. He emphasized the need to help those who lost their homes and lives in the storms. Florida confirmed 17 deaths from Hurricane Milton and over a million residents are still without power. The Biden administration addressed misinformation about FEMA funds being diverted to support illegal immigrants, clarifying that the funds are dedicated to disaster response efforts. The administration also tasked FEMA with distributing Customs and Border Protection money to areas dealing with an influx of migrants.
While Biden visited Florida, former President Donald Trump continued to spread false claims about the federal response, including accusations that aid is not reaching some areas. Lawmakers in Florida are seeking more disaster aid and have urged House leadership to approve additional funds. House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, believes it is not necessary for the House to return early from recess, as they are slated to convene after the election. He highlighted the funds allocated for disaster relief in a previous continuing resolution and stressed the importance of efficiently distributing those funds to help those in need.
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